Mikel Arteta has offered an encouraging update on the fitness of Arsenal defenders Gabriel and Jurrien Timber.

The Gunners fell five points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City after being held to a 2-2 draw by Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, with both players having to withdraw in the second half.

Arteta will still be without captain Martin Ødegaard and Riccardo Calafiori for the trip to Deepdale on Wednesday, but Gabriel and Timber are likely to return sooner than expected.

“We are still assessing Gabriel. It doesn’t look bad at all. He felt much better the next day. Hopefully, he’ll be fine. He has undergone some tests,” Arteta said.

“Jurrien was fine. He was just very tired. He’s been out for a while, and he could not continue the game. There is no new injury there at all.

"We have four very demanding matches now across different competitions, and we want to win them all.

"We need to start tomorrow to create some good momentum again, and we’ll put a strong team out there."

Arteta handed goalkeeper Jack Porter, along with fellow teenagers Josh Nichols, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Ethan Nwaneri, their full senior debuts in the 5-1 home win against Bolton in the previous round.

Two more teenagers, Maldini Kacurri and Ismael Kabia, made their first appearances off the bench, but Arteta stated that the Carabao Cup remains a tournament he is keen to win.

"It's important because it keeps everybody engaged; it helps maintain the winning habit, which is really crucial," he remarked.

"You demonstrate that you care about the competition, regardless of who you are playing, so you must compete in every match.

"The margins are very small, and tomorrow we will face a really tough opponent."

William Saliba is available after suspension, and Arteta confirmed he will again make changes at Preston as he utilises his entire squad.

"There are players who haven’t played much, and they will definitely have their chance tomorrow," the Spaniard added.

"But you have to earn the right to play, and when you have that right, you must perform and do so in a way that impacts the team and helps us win the game.

"That is what we will demand from everybody, whether you are young, experienced, or a regular starter for us."

Preston caused an upset against Fulham in the previous round, holding their nerve to win a marathon penalty shoot-out 16-15—a new tournament record—after a 1-1 draw.

Lilywhites boss Paul Heckingbottom expressed his desire for his players to enjoy the occasion.

"We know we will have to deliver a great performance and be really strong, clinical at one end, and solid at the other—similar to how we performed against Fulham—then who knows what could happen."