Arteta mentioned he was uncertain about the duration of Hincapie’s absence following his injury during last week’s goalless draw with Liverpool in the Premier League. Calafiori has been sidelined since last month due to a muscle injury and is expected to take a few weeks to recover, according to the manager.
“Willy and Leo… are uncertain because they aren’t fit enough. It’s nothing serious,” Arteta informed reporters on Tuesday.
With Hincapie and Saliba unavailable, Arsenal will only have four senior defenders for the clash against Chelsea, namely Gabriel Magalhaes, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ben White, and 16-year-old Marli Salmon.
Nevertheless, Arteta emphasized that Arsenal remains focused on seeking redemption in the League Cup after their semi-final defeat last season, where they lost both legs to Newcastle United with a score of 2-0.
“Football offers you another opportunity. We have been consistently strong in this competition, and now we must eliminate another formidable team to reach the final. That is our goal,” Arteta stated.
“Hopefully, we have learned from last year because it was quite painful, particularly the way the matches unfolded and the numerous chances we squandered. We aim to be more effective this year.”
Wednesday will mark the first occasion that Chelsea’s newly appointed manager Liam Rosenior faces a fellow Premier League club, after securing a victory against second-tier Charlton Athletic in his debut at the weekend.
Former Arsenal player Arteta has competed against Rosenior, who was playing for Hull City, in the FA Cup final back in 2014.
“I’ve viewed a few photographs from that match. That illustrates the beauty of football. Two very different paths, yet here we are, facing each other tomorrow at Stamford Bridge in a semi-final,” Arteta remarked.
“I’m aware of individuals who have collaborated with (Rosenior). They speak very highly of him, so I wish him the best except for tomorrow.”
