Mikel Arteta delivers Arsenal team news for Bolton clash and discusses "dark arts"

The visit of the Trotters comes just three days after the Gunners' pulsating 2-2 draw with Manchester City in the Premier League, where they were only denied a first win at the Etihad since 2015 by a 98th-minute John Stones leveller.

Arsenal were already without Mikel Merino, Martin Odegaard, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney for the clash with the champions, and Arteta has since been dealt numerous new blows on the injury and suspension front.

Leandro Trossard is banned for the third-round clash on account of his sending-off for two bookable offences at the weekend, where Ben White could only play 45 minutes due to a fitness concern, while David Raya, Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber all suffered knocks.

In addition, Arsenal cannot call upon second-choice goalkeeper Neto for the visit of Bolton, as the Bournemouth loanee is cup-tied, and a reported injury to third-choice Tommy Setford means that 16-year-old Jack Porter could start on Wednesday night.

Arteta provides Odegaard, Zinchenko injury updates

Asked for a general team news update in his pre-game press conference, Arteta replied: "I always prefer the facts than words or supposing things, so let's see who's available tomorrow and then we can talk about 'dark arts' or these things.

"Unfortunately, there will be a few players who are not available. Tomorrow, you will find it as soon as I give the line-up. We have to wait on one of them."

When pressed specifically on whether Raya could miss out, Arteta kept his answer brief, adding: "Let's see how they are today and we will try to make a call on that if it's a possibility."

The Arsenal boss also confirmed that Zinchenko is unlikely to return from his calf injury for "a few weeks", while Odegaard is not expected to recover from his ankle sprain before the international break.

The Gunners' injury crisis means that the likes of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly could make their first senior starts for the Gunners on Wednesday night, while centre-back Ayden Heaven and midfielder Salah Oulad M'Hand can also be optimistic of minutes.

However, Arteta has admitted that Arsenal cannot rotate heavily for the EFL Cup tie due to their decimated squad, adding: "At the moment we cannot [make 10 changes] because we don't have another 10 players available."

Arteta responds to Arsenal "dark arts" allegations

Lewis-Skelly only made his senior Arsenal debut as a late substitute in the four-goal draw with Man City, although the 17-year-old was cautioned by referee Michael Oliver before coming onto the pitch, apparently for talking to and encouraging Raya to go down off the ball.

That incident was one of several cases of Arsenal seemingly trying to run the clock down on Sunday, as Arteta's men did their utmost to hold onto a 2-1 lead with 10 men, with Timber and Calafiori also going down with cramp towards the end.

Bernardo Silva in particular raged at Arsenal's tactics at the Etihad and also aimed a dig towards the Gunners about their lack of recent silverware, having not won the Premier League since the Invincibles season of 2003-04.

However, Arteta insisted that "facts" are more important than "opinions" when it comes to such accusations of gamesmanship, adding: "It's opinions and that's it. Other things will be factors, but whoever says what he says, afterwards we are not going to graduate his words, we will use the facts.

"I think all the managers want a team that is happy and able to compete in any context that he's been thrown. That is what we want to achieve as a team."

Arsenal's clash with Bolton will be their first meeting with the Trotters since the 2011-12 Premier League season, and they have never lost to the former top-flight side at the Emirates Stadium.