Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Wednesday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace (kick-off 19:30 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Defenders Oleksandr Zinchenko and Riccardo Calafiori are not available for Wednesday’s game.
Declan Rice “is fine”, but Arteta will make a decision on whether the midfielder will play after training.
He said playing Crystal Palace “is always really tough” and “it is another layer of difficulty when you play a team twice in a row.”
On if Ethan Nwaneri and Martin Odegaard can play together: “It depends on who they’re surrounded with and what positions they can play. He [Nwaneri] can play as an right attacking midfielder, left attacking midfielder and a winger. I also think he can develop as a nine.”
In response to whether Arsenal will be looking to do business in January: “It will depend on who the player is, what the value of that player is and other movements in the squad. That is a difficult one to answer.”
He said he will not have a celebration to nod to his five years at the club, but will “reflect on it” because “five years in the job of this size is very big.”
On how winning the Carabao Cup can help them challenge for the Premier League: “I think it is really helpful. It brings belief, trust and positive energy. Touching a cup generates that energy and I think it creates the right path.”
He had a quick response when asked if he’s not played Raheem Sterling for a particular reason: “No.”
Follow all of Tuesday’s news conferences and the rest of the day’s football news
