Edwards on injuries, challenges and Arsenal's 'stubborn defence'
- Published
Rob Edwards has been speaking to the media before Luton Town face Arsenal in the Premier League on Wednesday night.
Here are the key lines from the Hatters boss:
In terms of team news, the three players who picked up injuries during the defeat at Tottenham "haven't trained yet" and they will need to be assessed ahead of this game. He was reluctant to give any indication of which players are closest to being available for selection.
He added: "If they were ready, then I would pick them. If they are not, then I won't be able to. If they are not, we will see if we can turn them around for Saturday." He highlighted that if players are not ready to face Arsenal, they will be a "big doubt" for this weekend's game as well.
Edwards described the current injury crisis as "the most difficult and challenging period I have ever faced" alongside the "serious incident" involving club captain Tom Lockyer earlier this season.
He added: "If I'm speaking honestly, to be competing the way we did on Saturday, against another top team [Tottenham], with the challenge that we are facing - we are doing pretty well."
After falling to a 4-3 defeat against the Gunners in the reverse fixture earlier this season, Edwards isn't expecting another goal fest between the teams: "Their defence is pretty stubborn, they don't give much away. It was a pretty unique game, as sometimes it can be at Kenilworth Road. They are in great form, especially since the break around January time."
He joked: "Look, if we are able to go and score three goals at the Emirates, then we are doing pretty well. We will try and be the best version of us - that is difficult at the moment [with the injuries]."
On how Arsenal might set up against the Hatters, he said: "They are so good with the ball that they are going to force us low. We are going to have to defend really, really well. We can do a lot of work on that and we will see."
Edwards is "aware" that Luton have another big game on Saturday [against Bournemouth] but he isn't prioritising one game over another, stating: "We aren't really going to have anyone else that we don't have tomorrow, so that wouldn't make any difference."
Follow all of Tuesday's Premier League news conferences here
