Mikel Arteta and Arsenal begin their EFL Cup campaign on home soil as they take on League One side Bolton Wanderers.
The dust from the mammoth clash away at Manchester City has barely settled as a proud Arsenal side begins their EFL Cup campaign against Bolton Wanderers at the Emirates. The Gunners fought a fierce battle against the reigning champions at the Etihad on Sunday, as the contest turned one-sided after a second yellow to Leaodro Trossard on the brink of half-time.
The Gunners put up a valiant defensive display against a team widely considered the best-attacking unit in the league. Arsenal were around ninety seconds from a famous victory, only for John Stones to grab a late equaliser to snatch a point. There has been a massive fallout after that game as the Gunners have been accused of many things, including mastering the ‘Dark Arts’, something Arteta will not care about.
Now, the Spanish coach will divert his attention away from the chatter about the game on Sunday to the one he has to manage on Wednesday evening. The Gunners begin their EFL Cup campaign, and while they have not given too much importance to this competition for many years now, Arteta might look to win it this time around.
Meanwhile, a visiting Bolton side had to manoeuvre through two rounds of the competition to book this high-profile clash with Arsenal. Ian Evatt’s side beat Mansfield on penalties before knocking out Shrewsbury Town with a 2-0 scoreline in the second round.
Since that game Bolton have lost twice and won as many, as Evatt will want his side to show a decent level of consistency to progress this season. In this competition, Bolton have not progressed beyond the third round since the 2011/12 season, where they incidentally faced the Gunners in the round of 16, and lost.
Bolton are on an incredible 66-year trophy drought and had high hopes to bring one this season, although that may be outside the EFL Cup, as they come to the Emirates as massive underdogs. For now, Evatt will hope Arsenal are drained out after three daunting away games, as he will look to find chunks in their otherwise formidable armour to take advantage of.
Team News & Tactics
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta could use this game as an opportunity to rest some of his overworked stars who have featured regularly since the start of the season. Six senior stars arestill need this clash through injury, including reserve goalkeeper Tommy Setford, which does pose a big problem for the Gunners boss.
David Raya picked up a knock in the Manchester City game and could sit out of the Bolton game altogether, while second-choice keeper Neto is cup-tied. Now, with Setford injured, there is a favourable atmosphere and a fortunate opportunity for 16-year-old Jack Porter.
For now, he seems like the choice for Arteta to start in goal, and a game of this nature might not prevent the manager from making this bold choice. Meanwhile, Leandro Trossard will serve his suspension following his red card against Manchester City. In addition, there are doubts about Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber’s fitness.
Arteta also revealed in his post-Manchester City conference that he did not plan on playing Ben White in that clash, meaning the English defender could potentially sit out. Myles Lewis-Skelly and Josh Nicols are pencilled in to come in those full-back roles, while another academy star, Ayden Heaven, could start in central defence alongside Jakub Kiwior.
There could be further changes in the midfield and attacking setup, with Ethan Nwaneri and Salah-Eddine Oulad M’hand expected to start in midfield alongside the experienced Jorginho. Gabriel Jesus might be the choice to lead the line, with Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling will also take their places on either wing.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Porter; Nicols, Heaven, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; M’hand, Jorginho, Nwaneri; Saka, Jesus, Sterling
Bolton Wanderers
Ian Evatt’s side has plenty of missing personnel ahead of this big clash with Arsenal, as they will also need former Arsenal youngster Jordi Osei-Tutu, who scored in the previous round of this competition. Carlos Gomes, Klaidi Lolos, Gethin Jones, and Will Forrester are the other absentees not travelling with the squad.
Bolton Wanderers do not have any fresh injury concerns from their most recent game, meaning the manager will look to field his strongest available eleven at the Emirates. Incidentally, the visitors only have a single player above the age of 30, who happens to be former Rangers and Burnley man Scott Arfield, as Evatt will look to promote him to the starting lineup for the experience he brings.
With a back three of Chris Forino, Ricardo Santos and George Johnston in place. Josh Dacres-Cogley and Randell Williams will feature in the wing-back roles. George Thomason and Jay Matete will stay in midfield. Dion Charles will lead the line with the support of Arfield and Kyle Dempsey in the attacking third.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Southwood; Forino, Santos, Johnston; Dacres-Cogley, Thomason, Matete, Williams; Dempsey, Arfield; Charles
Key Stats
- Arsenal have won their last seven home matches against Bolton Wanderers in all competitions.
- Arsenal have been drawing at half-time and winning at full-time in six of their last seven home matches against Bolton in all competitions.
- Arsenal are unbeaten this season in all competitions.
- Bolton have not progressed beyond beyond the third round of the EFL Cup since the 2011/12 season.
- Bolton Wanderers have won three and lost three of their last six games in all competitions.
Player to Watch
Ethan Nwaneri
The academy star is the closest choice to have a breakthrough this season under Mikel Arteta, and these cup games are a big chance for him to show the manager he is capable of playing at a high level. With Arsenal somewhat struggling to keep everyone fit, and considering the high-profile absence of Martin Odegarrd, the teenager has an opportunity to shine.
With Nwaneri likely to get a start in this clash against Bolton Wanderers, he must take this game by the scruff of the neck. Moreover, he will likely have a formidable attacking force in front of him, as the teenager’s ability will be primarily judged based on his creative influence in the final third.
Prediction
Arsenal 2-0 Bolton Wanderers
Bolton are unlikely to come to the Emirates thinking they can cause an upset. For starters, they are not in the best of form to have the level of confidence needed to beat Arsenal, nor do they possess the quality required here.
Arsenal, on the other hand, could name a much-changed side for this midweek EFL Cup clash, and despite that, Mikel Arteta will expect a comfortable victory. Overall, the Gunners boss will use this match as a measure to add minutes into the legs of fringe stars and blood some youngsters, as the North Londoners are expected to win this third-round clash with ease.