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:
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Defenders Oleksandr Zinchenko and Riccardo Calafiori are not available for Wednesday’s game.
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Declan Rice “is fine”, but Arteta will make a decision on whether the midfielder will play after training.
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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.”
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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.”
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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.”
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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.”
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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.”
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He had a quick response when asked if he’s not played Raheem Sterling for a particular reason: “No.”
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