Arsenal return to action against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.

Mikel Arteta's side are still challenging for all four major trophies this season and a win in the London derby would see them advance to the semi-finals of the League Cup - a trophy they last lifted in 1993.

The Gunners will be confident after securing a comfortable 1-0 victory over Everton away from home at the weekend. It followed a lacklustre performance against Wolves that threatened to derail theirPremier League title hopes. Yet, they managed to scrape a win thanks to a late own goal on that occasion.

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Arteta's men remain two points ahead of Manchester City as they prepare to return to league action this weekend, hosting Brighton. With plenty of speculation surrounding Arsenal's prospects of winning the Premier League and even the Champions League this season, football.london takes a look at two of the latest news stories involving the Gunners.

Wayne Rooney has tippedDeclan Rice to take over the captaincy for England once current skipper Harry Kane decides to retire from international football. Despite Kane being the regular captain for the Three Lions, midfield dynamo Rice has worn the armband twice in his 72 senior appearances, most recently in the 3-0 triumph over Wales in October.

Rice, a stalwart for England over the past five years, has elevated his performances under Arteta's guidance, with his dynamic display against Everton drawing admiration from Toffees icon Rooney. The 26-year-old’s remarkable playing ability and sheer desire to leave a mark on games has Rooney convinced that Rice has what it takes to lead his country.

Speaking on BBC Sport's The Wayne Rooney Show, he said: "I have to say Declan Rice is incredible, it was a pleasure to watch. He was by far the best player on the pitch. For me, he’s the future captain of England. He’s the one who’s probably waiting for Harry to hang up his boots at some point.

"He was all over the pitch. His decision-making – when to pass it, where to pass it, what foot to pass it to, his detail on his pass – it was a pleasure to watch. He was absolutely incredible.

"He was splitting centre-backs, taking the ball off Arsenal’s centre-backs, acting as a third centre-back, then next minute he’s in the box, trying to score a goal. Sometimes, some of the stuff he does is a bit underrated.

"He’s the right one to take over Kane for me, because of his drive, his personality. Everyone seems to love him, who knows him, who’s close to him. He’s irreplaceable for England."

Mikel Arteta has once again praisedMartin Odegaard's leadership after the Arsenal captain allowed Viktor Gyokeres to step up and take the Gunners' penalty against Everton. The Norwegian has faced scrutiny over the past year for inconsistent performances, with respected figures such as Tony Adams even claiming Rice should wear the armband instead.

However, Arteta has consistently backed the player who was instrumental in his early success at the Emirates, now praising Odegaard for taking responsibility by handing the spot-kick to Gyokeres, who had been short on confidence following a goal drought.

The manager explained: "They took ownership on the pitch between Martin and Bukayo [Saka] and him to decide who was the taker. They made a great decision because Viktor put the ball in the back of the net."

When asked whether this was another demonstration of the playmaker's leadership qualities, Arteta replied: "Yes I agree with that. And as well the confidence in the player [Gyokeres] because obviously he practices every day.

"He's unbelievable at it and he put the ball in the back of the net. I love when players take ownership and decide what is the best decision. That's something really positive."