Arsenal team news vs Blackpool: Mesut Ozil and Shkodran Mustafi expected to miss FA Cup tie
Arsenal are likely to field a team of young but recognised players
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal are unlikely to welcome back any of their injured players in time for Saturday's FA Cup third-round clash at Blackpool.
Mesut Ozil (knee) leads the list of expected absentees and while Hector Bellerin (calf), Nacho Monreal (hamstring) and Konstantinos Mavropanos (groin) are training at some level, none are likely to be risked at Bloomfield Road.
The same goes for Shkodran Mustafi, who came off at half-time in the win over Fulham with a minor hamstring complaint, while Rob Holding (knee), Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Danny Welbeck (both ankle) are ruled out longer-term.
Mustafi only recently returned from an injury but a reoccurring hamstring problem is unlikely to keep him out for too long, said Unai Emery. "It’s a small injury, a small problem," said the Arsenal manager after his side's win against Fulham.
"He didn’t feel well after the first half and said for us to change. It’s not a big injury. He wanted to play today to help us, so maybe we can give him a few days rest to help us. Yes [it’s a hamstring]."
Emery is likely to name a recognisable side given the wealth of young talent available at Arsenal, and is wary of the threat of defeat.
"In my experience I also have one dark day in some competitions and I don't like it," Emery said when asked if he was aware of the term "giant-killing".
"For example we lost with Sevilla against one team in the third division in Spain in one cup. I remember that.
Blackpool, meanwhile, will be without Jordan Thompson for the visit of Arsenal as the midfielder completes a three-match suspension following his dismissal against Rochdale on Boxing Day.
The plum fixture comes a week after the Gunners were thrashed 5-1 by Premier League leaders Liverpool, a result that delighted Reds supporter and former youth team forward Terry McPhillips.
Born in Manchester but raised from a young age on Merseyside, McPhillips, who was appointed Gary Bowyer's permanent successor at Blackpool in September, added: "It's always been Liverpool for me.
"(The Arsenal result) was 'wow' that they can do that and after going a goal behind as well.
"Can we take something from them? I'm not sure we can but apart from be excited by them and strive to be as close to them as you could possibly be."
Provisional Arsenal squad: Leno, Cech, Martinez, Jenkinson, Lichtsteiner, Koscielny, Papastathopoulos, Medley, Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Elneny, Torreira, Guendouzi, Ramsey, Iwobi, Saka, Lacazette, Aubameyang, Nketiah.
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