Arsenals Arteta eyes League Cup redemption despite injury-hit defence

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Soccer Football - FA Cup - Third Round - Portsmouth v Arsenal - Fratton Park, Portsmouth, Britain - January 11, 2026 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta applauds fans after the match REUTERS/Toby Melville

Jan 13 - Defenders Piero Hincapie and Riccardo Calafiori will miss Arsenals trip to Chelsea for Wednesdays League Cup semi-final first leg, while William Saliba and Leandro Trossard are doubtful, manager Mikel Arteta said.

Arteta said he did not know how long Hincapie would be out after picking up an injury during last weeks goalless draw with Liverpool in the Premier League. Calafiori has been out since last month with a muscle injury and may take a few weeks to return, the Spaniard said.

Willy and Leo... are doubts because they are not fit enough. Nothing serious, Arteta told reporters on Tuesday.

The absence of Hincapie and Saliba has left Arsenal with only four senior defenders for the Chelsea clash, including Gabriel Magalhaes, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ben White and 16-year-old Marli Salmon.

However, Arteta said Arsenal will not be deterred from looking for redemption in the League Cup, after losing in last seasons semis with 2-0 losses to Newcastle United in both legs.

Football gives you another chance. We have been really consistent again in the competition and now we have to knock another big team out to be in the final. Thats the mission, Arteta said.

Hopefully, we learn from last year because it was painful, especially the manner in which the games went