Carabao Cup: Arsenal Devoid of Creative Options Ahead of Crunch Liverpool Clash

• Arsenal look set to miss out on the services of both Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe
• Smith Rowe has a groin issue, while Odegaard did not travel with the squad to Liverpool
• The Gunners are also without Tomiyasu (calf) and Thomas Partey, who is on AFCON duty

Arsenal look set to miss the services of their most creative duo of Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe for the Carabao Cup semi-final clash against Liverpool on Thursday, January 13.

Mikel Arteta finds himself short of creative players as reports suggest the semi-final clash might have come too early for Smith Rowe.

The young Englishman was a notable absentee as Arsenal exited the FA Cup in a shock defeat to Nottingham forest last weekend.

Odegaard also reportedly has a knock and will likely not start on Thursday as he did not travel with the squad for the game.

The Norwegian has been an integral part of Arteta’s team since his permanent move to North London, and has often benched Smith Rowe, despite the 21-year old being the team’s top goal scorer this season.

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In defence, Arsenal will also be without right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu, who is still struggling with a calf problem.

Tomiyasu also missed the defeat to Nottingham Forest, with Cedric Soares covering at right back.

With Thomas Partey in AFCON duty, Arteta will also likely tweak his midfield, and it will be interesting to see whether he will go for his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation or choose to switch it up a bit.

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For Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp will also have to do some coping, especially without the services of Sadio Mane and Mohammed Salah, two stars currently at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

After their recent alleged COVID-19 outbreak within the club, it is yet to be confirmed the players who will be available.

Klopp however recently hinted that he might well have a healthy squad to choose from after admitting there were some ‘false COVID positives’ that were identified last week.

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Away from COVID, the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho and Andy Robertson are all fit enough to start.

Roberto Firmino was on the bench for the game against Shrewsbury in the FA cup and in the absence of Salah and Mane, he might be given the nod.