Mikel Arteta explains Eberechi Eze injury blow as Arsenal star misses Carabao Cup final

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·22 Maret 2026

Mikel Arteta explains Eberechi Eze injury blow as Arsenal star misses Carabao Cup final

Influential midfielder ruled out, with Jurrien Timber also absent for Carabao Cup final

Eberechi Eze has been ruled out of the Carabao Cup final in a major blow for Arsenal.

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The midfielder was forced off in the second half against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday night, having scored a stunning goal in the first-half to set the Gunners on their way to victory.

Eze suggested after the match that he would be fine and the injury scare was not a serious one, but he does not make the squad to face Manchester City at Wembley.

Speaking before the game, Mikel Arteta said of Eze: “We tried everything [to get him fit for the game], but unfortunately he, Martin [Odegaard], Jurrien [Timber] and Mikel [Merino] are out.”

In his absence, Kai Havertz comes into the side to start at No10 before Viktor Gyokeres.

The pair started together in January against Kairat and Leeds and linked up nicely together.

Arteta will be hoping for more of that at Wembley as Arsenal look to win their first major trophy since the 2020 FA Cup final.

They will have to do so without their captain as well after Martin Odegaard failed to prove his fitness in time.

Odegaard has been out for a month but trained on Saturday, raising hopes that he could make a late push to be involved in the Carabao Cup final.

However, he does not make the squad and Jurrien Timber also misses out, despite being named in the Netherlands squad for the upcoming international break.

On Odegaard and Timber, Arteta said: “They couldn't make it, so I think they will still be a couple of weeks. Let's see after the international break if we have anybody back.”