Mikel Arteta says Declan Rice and Riccardo Califiori are both available for Arsenal’s trip to Crystal Palace and is convinced Oleksandr Zinchenko could join them.
Rice sat out Wednesday’s 3-1 win over Palace in the Carabao Cup with an unspecified issue, with Califiori not featuring since last month’s 5-2 win over West Ham.
“They are both available,” Arteta confirmed in Friday’s pre-match press conference.
And when asked about Zinchenko, who has not featured since the 2-0 win over Manchester United, he added: “I think he could be available.”
Gabriel Jesus scored a hat-trick at the Emirates on Wednesday, the first time he has scored at home in more than a year, while he is yet to open his Premier League account this season.
On the No9, Arteta said: “He was very happy because he helped the team win to reach the semi-final and that’s what we wanted.
“You can see his immediate reaction, a big smile on his face and that’s what we need from everyone to be at our highest level of performance and Gabi (Jesus) certainly had that.
“He’s looked really good since he came back from pre-season. After having a setback, he started to play and put in some good performances without scoring. What he did the other day is exactly what we need in our nine.”
Arteta celebrates five years as Arsenal manager this weekend, transforming the Gunners from a struggling outfit into one of England’s top powers once again.
On how they have grown in five years, the Spaniard said: “The unity, the connection and the fact that we are fighting on big fronts at the moment. We haven’t been able to do that in recent years, so that’s a positive.
“I am here because I am so passionate about what I do and I love this football club. I try to be the best version of myself every day.
“These things take time. There was a connection here with the fans because I was a player and a captain here, but after going through different situations together, it galvanized the relationship.”
“I really enjoy working with the people I work with every day. We’ve built something together and everyone contributed a lot to make it happen and the fact that everyone is hungry and ambitious that now we have to go to another level. “
