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Arsenal full squad revealed for Bolton with four late decisions and Mikel Arteta injury crisis

Arsenal players training
-Credit: (Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)


Mikel Arteta's season gets more complicated by the week as Arsenal start their Carabao Cup journey on Wednesday. Hosting League One outfit Bolton, the game looked the ideal chance on paper to rest and rotate.

That now appears an unlikely privilege for Arteta as he balances injuries and availability with a schedule starting to pick up in intensity. After gruelling back-to-back-to-back away match at Tottenham, Atalanta, and Manchester City, the Arsenal squad has been decimated.

Both through injury and suspension over a tough month for the Gunners, Arteta now doesn't have as many options as he would like for domestic cup action. Not only will Leandro Trossard be out as he serves a one-match ban for picking up two yellow cards on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium, a host of his teammates could join him on the sidelines.

Mikel Merino, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Takehiro Tomiyasu are all ruled out with ongoing fitness problems. Captain Martin Odegaard is also facing an extended period out of the side with Arteta not expecting him back until late October at the earliest.

In what was already a relatively small group of senior players, the last few weeks have taken their toll elsewhere too. Both Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori were taken off late on against City despite defending furiously with 10 men.

Both players have had injury issues since joining the club and Arteta threw doubt over their involvement against Bolton. Choosing not to name individual players, he said cryptically, "I always prefer the facts to words or supposing things."

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Arteta has often been coy on his team news in the past before making very few changes but he is also expected to be waiting on the readiness of goalkeeper David Raya too. "Let’s see who is available tomorrow and then we can talk about dark arts or these things or if it’s a reality," he said, commenting on criticism of his Arsenal players going down injured against City.

"Unfortunately, yes there will be a few players not available," he did confirm. The Spaniard was not going to give any more away though. "Tomorrow you will find out [who is missing]. As soon as I give the line up."

Arteta also hinted at a 'serious' injury coming from the game at City. "We have to wait on one of them," he said. This all adds to a problematic situation which leaves no clear senior goalkeeper available behind Raya.

Jack Porter is likely to be involved as one of the only names available, whilst Hale End hopefuls could make up the rest of the squad depending on fitness. Attacker Ismeal Kabia has been on the bench already this season and may well get another look in, whilst Maldini Kacurri was unused in Manchester.

Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelley could get the biggest match action of their short first-team careers to date. Here, football.london takes a look at the 20-man group Arsenal could use to play Bolton.

Goalkeepers: Jack Porter, David Raya

Defenders: Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori, Ben White, Jakub Kiwior, Maldini Kacurri

Midfielders: Declan Rice, Thomas Partey, Jorginho, Myles Lewis-Skelley, Ethan Nwaneri

Attackers: Buykayo Saka, Raheem Sterling, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Ismeal Kabia