Arsenal are assessing Riccardo Calafiori, Noni Madueke and Declan Rice before Sunday's Premier League visit to Liverpool, after Mikel Arteta confirmed that all three were unavailable for the EFL Cup defeat at Fleetwood Town.

The Gunners went out in the fourth round on penalties on Tuesday night, having been held to a 1-1 draw at Highbury Stadium by a League Two side sitting 84 places beneath them in the English pyramid, according to Metro. Viktor Gyokeres scored Arsenal's goal, with 18-year-old Ceadach O'Neill providing the assist on his debut, Arsenal Insider reports.

Arteta explains the absences

Speaking after the match, Arteta set out why the trio had not travelled to Lancashire. The Arsenal manager said Calafiori was "out" and that Madueke was "out with an ankle", while Rice had been "feeling a problem the other day", which is why he was withdrawn against Everton, the Mirror reports.

In Saturday’s 2-0 victory against Everton, Rice was withdrawn late, and on Tuesday Martin Zubimendi was named in the starting XI in his stead. The Mirror notes that Rice was seen training with his team-mates on Monday. Arteta is expected to give a fuller update when he speaks to the media on Friday, Metro reports.

Arsenal Insider reports that Arteta did not put a timescale on any of the three problems, leaving supporters waiting for news before the Anfield fixture.

Dowman adds to the shortage

Arsenal's night also brought a disciplinary issue. Late in the match, Max Dowman received a straight red card, and according to Metro, that sending-off will keep him unavailable for the following three fixtures. The Mirror states that he will be suspended for the Liverpool match.

The Evening Standard reported that Arteta directed furious words at the teenager as he left the pitch, describing the red card as an angry response to a dangerous tackle.

A longer absentee list

The three new concerns sit alongside existing problems. According to Metro, Bukayo Saka is anticipated to miss six to eight weeks after he limped off in last week’s game against Bayern Munich. The Mirror lists William Saliba and Christos Tzolis as long-term absentees, while Arsenal Insider reports that Tzolis is still out with a hamstring injury and that Saliba has not played since the World Cup.

Zubimendi is presently wearing a mask because he broke his nose, Arsenal Insider additionally reports.

Options for Anfield

With Madueke unavailable and Saka already out, Arsenal Insider reports that Arteta's wide options are thin, with Eberechi Eze fit and O'Neill, who impressed on his debut, a possible alternative. According to the same outlet, Piero Hincapie came back from injury versus Fleetwood and would naturally fill in for Calafiori at left-back, while Myles Lewis-Skelly is another option.

Arteta was blunt about the result itself. He described it as a "very sad day" and opened his post-match comments by congratulating Fleetwood on the upset, the Mirror reports.

The Mirror reports that they will next restart their Champions League fixtures away at Slavia Prague, then host Hull before the November international break.

Photo: Bryan Berlin via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, resized.