Arsenal Lose Saliba Martinelli for League Cup Brighton Clash

Arsenal will face Brighton & Hove Albion in the League Cup fourth-round without key players William Saliba and Gabriel Martinelli due to injuries sustained in their recent Premier League win over Crystal Palace. Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed Saliba is definitely out for the match, while Martinelli's injury requires further assessment, but he is expected to miss the game as well. Despite these setbacks, Arsenal have sufficient squad depth with players like Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori, and Bukayo Saka available to step in. However, Arteta expressed concern about the attacking options, as other forwards including Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, and Noni Madueke are also sidelined. Arsenal currently lead the Premier League with 22 points from nine games, and summer signings have bolstered the squad, but injuries remain a significant challenge. Arteta emphasized the need to manage player fitness carefully to maintain the team's high performance levels.