Not long ago: Led by Andrew Madley and his team of match officials, both pairs of players will march onto the Etihad pitch with a place in the semi-finals of this year’s Carabao Cup on the line. Kick-off in north London is just minutes away…

Meanwhile in Hampshire: Southampton host Liverpool in the quarter-finals at St Mary’s, starting at 8pm (GMT). Scott Murray will provide updates on this…

Oliver Glasner: When asked if his team could beat Arsenal, the Austrian said he thought it was possible but added a caveat. “A few weeks ago they were struggling but now injured players are coming back and their form has been getting better and better,” he said.

“Of course,” he replied when asked if he would play with a full team. “It’s the quarter-finals of a cup competition. We put together the fitter team for every single game and it will be the same tomorrow. When someone is tired, they get a break to rest.”

On Eddie Nketiah, who has scored just one goal for Palace this season: “I’m pretty sure he’ll get minutes at his old stadium,” said Glasner. “He is very ambitious and works hard. He had a very positive influence on Brighton – we got more control of the game. He wants to score and I see that every day in training.”

Mikel Arteta: “I think it’s really helpful,” Arsenal’s manager said when asked what winning the Carabao Cup would mean for his team. “It brings faith, trust and positive energy. Touching a cup creates this energy and I think it paves the right path.”

Kieran Tierney: The Scotland defender is making his first appearance for Arsenal since the 2023 Community Shield after spending last season on loan at Real Sociedad and is out this season due to a serious hamstring injury sustained in Scotland’s draw against Switzerland during the European Championships Battle was launched.

Tonight’s match officials

VAR: A reminder that the Carabao Cup will not use video assistant referees until the semi-finals this season.

Caleb who? Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner gives Caleb Kporha his first start in the club’s senior team. The 18-year-old English defender’s only appearance for his club came as a late substitute in his side’s defeat to Fulham in November. Congratulations to him on a milestone evening in his young career.

Lineups between Arsenal and Crystal Palace

That just in…

Early team news

Arsenal are in something of a defensive crisis and with Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ricardo Calafiori all sidelined tonight, the less-heralded Kieran Tierney could return for his first appearance of the season since leaving the Euros with a hamstring injury.

Declan Rice was substituted after an hour of Arsenal’s weekend draw with Everton due to a spell of weakness and is considered fit but can be rested as a precaution. Fringe players Raheem Sterling, Jakub Kiwior, Jorginho, Gabriel Jesus and Ethan Nwaneri are all likely to experience something tonight.

While Joel Ward and Adam Wharton are reportedly close to full fitness following injuries, tonight’s game may come too soon for the Crystal Palace duo, while there are also slight concerns over the availability of Eberech Eze, who has delivered a bang Contributed to his team’s win against Brighton.

Palace striker Eddie Nketiah and reserve goalkeeper Matt Turner could face their former club, although former Arsenal defender Rob Holding remains in exile for reasons his manager Oliver Glasner refuses to reveal.

Carabao Cup: Arsenal vs Crystal Palace