How Arsenal can line up against Liverpool with Arteta only managing to rally the team together amid Covid and injury crashes

MIKEL ARTETA remains adamant in his team selection ahead of the Liverpool game as he aims to reach his second cup final as Arsenal manager.

The Gunners have asked for Sunday’s match against Tottenham to be postponed due to Covid and the injury that is ravaging their squad.

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And although some problems remain, Arteta can welcome some key players back into his squad for Thursday’s Carabao Cup clash.

Martin Odegaard returns as Covid’s sole absentee from the weekend, while Thomas Partey could also return to the UK after being excluded from AFCON with Ghana.

The match against Liverpool at the Emirates may come too soon for the midfielder but Emile Smith Rowe could function in a deeper role after missing out semi-final first leg.

Bukayo Saka is also is expected to return alongside Calum Chambers, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Cedric Soares – all four overcame the falls.

But Granit Xhaka remains suspended after a red card at Anfield – finding a partner for Sambi Lokonga will probably be Arteta’s biggest headache.

Elsewhere, Arteta will likely want to bring back first-choice right-back Tomiyasu back into the starting lineup.

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Cedric started the first leg but it lasted only 11 minutes and was substituted by Chambers, who helped Arsenal keep a clean sheet.

Arteta may also decide to capture Eddie Nketiah himself again – the striker is the top scorer in the Carabao Cup this season with 5 goals.

Asked about the possibility of a player, Arteta said: “I can’t and I don’t want to because I don’t want to give anything away, sorry.

“There are issues and problems that remain unresolved, but as you can understand, I like to keep that to myself.

“We played with academy players when we had the youngest squad in this tournament.”

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