Norwich City travel to the Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal tonight, in the last 16 of the Carabao (League) Cup.
Both clubs played on Sunday and both clubs notched victories, with City having beaten Ipswich (again) and Arsenal thumping Everton 2-5, a result that saw Ronald Koeman lose his job as Toffees` manager on Monday.
The league will be a priority for both sides but Daniel Farke has shown previously that he wants to win every game and get as far as possible in the cup competition. That policy, of playing his best team, has led him to North London.
There`s much to be worried about in Arsenal`s squad if you`re playing them in the league but Arsene Wenger is known for playing youngsters in these type of cup games and it took a single goal from Theo Walcott, to see the Gunners past Doncaster Rovers in the last round.
Walcott is likely to feature again but I suspect that there will be a large reliance on youth as well. That obviously bodes well for Norwich because it gives us a chance and makes it more likely to be an even game. If the likes of Sanchez, Lacazette and Ozil were playing then I`d fear the worst but Donny Rovers gave them a game and there`s no reason why we can`t do the same.
Reiss Nelson, Joe Willock and Ainsley Maitland-Niles have all playing in the Europa League for Arsenal this season and will most likely be involved.
Young ‘uns, Eddie Nketiah, Ben Sheaf, Jay Dasilva, Marcus McGuane, Jordi Osei-Tutu and Matt Macey are also potentially in the squad, after being left out of Arsenal’s U23s game against Tottenham on Monday – that suggests to me that they will play tonight.
I don`t want to make it sound as though we`ll be up against some wet behind the ears kids though, because you don`t get a professional contract at Arsenal unless you`re very good and this lot are proving that.
On the more experienced side of the squad, we are very likely to see Olivier Giroud and Alex Iwobi starting, probably with Francis Coquelin and Mohammed Elneny in midfield. Jack Wilshere was a sub at Everton and came on, suggesting he could be back in the first team picture enough to miss this mid-week game.
Shkodran Mustafi (hamstring), Calum Chambers (hip), Santi Cazorla (ankle), Danny Welbeck and David Ospina (both groin) all miss out.
Arsenal squad to face Norwich from: Cech, Macey, Dasilva, Osei-Tutu, Holding, Mertesacker, Debuchy, Monreal, Elneny, Nelson, Sheaf, McGuane, Wilshere, Coquelin, Maitland-Niles, Willock, Iwobi, Nketiah, Akpom, Walcott, Giroud
Norwich will be taking a massive 9,000 fans to the Emirates tonight, which should turn a large portion of the stadium yellow and green and make the team feel right at home. Make sure you sing your hearts out, if you`re going.
OTBC
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