Team News: Martin Odegaard, Emile Smith Rowe, Takehiro Tomiyasu return for Arsenal

Martin Odegaard, Emile Smith Rowe and Takehiro Tomiyasu have all returned to Arsenal's first XI for the visit of Liverpool in Thursday's EFL Cup semi-final second leg at the Emirates.

Odegaard has now recovered from a bout of coronavirus and is set to start in a deeper midfield role alongside Albert Sambi Lokonga, with Granit Xhaka serving a suspension following his red card in the first leg.

Tomiyasu and Smith Rowe have also shaken off injury concerns to return to the first XI, but Cedric Soares and Calum Chambers - who both went off injured in the first leg - are not involved.

Meanwhile, Thomas Partey has also been deemed fit enough for a place on the bench alongside Charlie Patino following Ghana's early elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations.

Aaron Ramsdale gets the nod in goal as expected - with Bernd Leno not in the squad full stop - as Tomiyasu joins Gabriel, Ben White and Kieran Tierney at the back.

Bukayo Saka has also overcome a knock to start out wide alongside Gabriel Martinelli, with Alexandre Lacazette spearheading the charge in North London.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has confirmed that his heart is fine following a scare over a post-COVID complication, but the Gabon international is understandably not involved tonight.

Arsenal starting lineup: Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Lokonga, Odegaard; Saka, Smith Rowe, Martinelli; Lacazette