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Arsenal FC
Hillsborough, Owlerton, Sheffield,
Tuesday, 27th October, 2015, 1945 GMT
While Sheffield Wednesday FC wait to host Arsenal FC at Hillsborough, on Tuesday, both the Championship side and the Premier League club would know that they are going into this match on the back of a good run of form.
Arsenal FC are currently joint leaders of the Premier League, only behind Manchester City on goal difference, while Wednesday have been on an unbeaten run since September. As the Gunners manager Arsene Wenger traditionally likes to give his younger players a chance, when his side plays teams from the lower leagues, this promises to be quite an exciting tie.
Team News and Tactical Berief:
Sheffield Wednesday FC
The Owls have been on great form of late, and would be looking to carry that forward, into their Capital One Cup Round of 16 match against the English giants.
However, Sheffield Wednesday FCa s Portuguese manager Carlos Carvahal has his work cut out ahead of this tie, as he could be missing out on some key players, going into this tough fixture. The likes of defender Michael Turner, midfielder Alex Lopez, forwards Modou Sougou and Marco Matias will be unavailable for the match, because of respective injuries.
Wednesday however, would be pinning their hopes on England youth goalkeeper Jow Wildmsith, in order to keep the fierce Arsenal attack at bay.
Arsenal FC
The Gunners have been on rampant form this season, sweeping aside the mid and lower table oppositions of the Premier League, with great aplomb. They have even managed to dish out a convincing 2-0 defeat to FC Bayern Munich, who have otherwise had a perfect season, winning all their 10 matches, in the Bundesliga.
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However, since the Gunners will play Swansea City FC in the weekend, and FC Bayern Munich in the next midweek, Wenger would be looking to rest some of his important men, and send out a rather young cavalry, to take charge of the pitch, at Hillsborough.
While the youngsters like Calum Chambers, Krystian Bielik, Alex Iwobi and Joel Campbell stand to find their name on the starting XI, some of the older legs could also get a run-out on the field, due to injuries to key players, especially in the midfield department.
Key Facts:
Arsenal FC have won all their five previous Capital One Cup (League Cup) matches against Sheffield Wednesday.
Arsene Wengera s men have also been quite strong against whichever lower league opposition they have faced, losing only twice to a non-Premier League/ First Division side, in the last quarter of a century.
However, the Gunners cannot afford to be too complacent with the Championship side, who have remained unbeaten in their home Capital One Cup fixtures in the last seven years.
Player to watch out for:
Joe Wildsmith (Sheffield Wednesday)
The England U-20 international is not a regular starter for Wednesday, but is one of their most promising players for the future. While manager Carvahal admitted that Wildsmith is being played in this match because first choice keeper Keiren Westwood is carrying some niggles, he did say that Wildsmith is one for the future. The 19-year-old has certainly proved his caliber, with clean sheets against Bolton Wanderers FC and Newcastle United FC. Sheffield Wednesday FC would certainly be looking to their young English custodian to keep the Arsenal FC attackers out, on Tuesday night.
Prediction:
Sheffield Wednesday FC 1-3 Arsenal FC
While the Owls have been good this season, injuries to key players is set to hit them hard. The gunners are set to field a mix of young and experienced players against Wednesday, and would be looking to swipe the Championship side out of their way, as they try to get into the quarter finals.
Blast from the past:
Arsenal FC 3-3 Sheffield Wednesday FC (2000)
Incidentally, the last time Sheffield Wednesday FC played against Arsenal Fc, was also the Owlsa last match ever, in the Premier League, back in 2000. The Owls were 3-1 up at one stage, but the Gunners pulled two goals back, to level the scores at 3-3, by virtue of which, Sheffield United FC were relegated. The Owls would certainly be looking to avenge this result, as Arsenal FC travel to Hillsborough.