Odegaard back with Arsenal vs Liverpool semi-final set to go ahead despite Kolasinac & Mari exits

Arsenal’s Carabao Cup semi-final against Liverpool on Thursday night looks set to go ahead as planned, with the issues that left Mikel Arteta with a threadbare squad at the weekend beginning to ease - even with Sead Kolasinac and Pablo Mari on the verge of exits.

A combination of injuries, Covid and having players away on international duty saw Arsenal's north London derby meeting with Spurs postponed on Sunday by the Premier League.

There have since been some suggestions that Thursday night’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Liverpool could also be under threat, but Arsenal are working towards the tie going ahead as scheduled.

Despite speculation about Thursday night’s game, Arsenal are hopeful that the clash against Liverpool will go ahead, providing there is no fresh Covid-19 outbreak at London Colney in the next 48 hours.

Martin Odegaard, who would have missed Sunday’s game at Tottenham having tested positive for coronavirus, has now been able to return to the club’s London Colney training base.

And the Gunners are hopeful that some of the players who have been sidelined through injury, such as Emile Smith Rowe and Takehiro Tomiyasu, could be fit enough to return.

The likes of Bukayo Saka, Kieran Tierney and Calum Chambers, who picked up knocks in the first leg, are also hopeful of being passed fit.

Mikel Arteta’s squad numbers could also be boosted if needed by two youngsters who have been recalled from loan in recent days.

Midfielder Miguel Azeez has returned from Portsmouth, while forward Tyreece John-Jules returned from Blackpool on Monday.

One player who does look set to miss out on Thursday night, however, is Cedric Soares, who is still suffering from the hip problem that saw him substituted during the first half at Anfield last week.

Both defenders are on the verge of leaving, with the deals expected to be finalised before the end of the week.

They have been given permission to leave London Colney to put the finishing touches on their moves, with Kolasinac believed to now be in France ahead of a switch to Marseille.

Arsenal and Kolasinac have agreed to terminate the Bosnia international's contract by mutual consent six months early, leaving him free to join the Ligue 1 side, where he will reunite with current Arsenal loanees Matteo Gurenoduzi and William Saliba.

Meanwhile, Mari is close to joining Serie A side Udinese on loan for the remainder of the season.

Both players have found themselves on the fringes of things under Arteta this season, with Kolasinac making just five appearances in all competitions and Mari appearing just three times, with his last appearance coming on September 22 in a League Cup win against AFC Wimbledon.