Arsenal return to action in the Carabao Cup with West Ham United the opponents standing between Mikel Arteta and yet another cup quarter-final. The Gunners edged past Brentford in the third round of the competition despite making significant changes to the squad.
It’s likely that the same will happen again for this away trip. With a long journey to Newcastle United just three days later, Arteta is sure to be conscious of the recovery time for his key starters before such a pivotal clash up north.
Most of all though this game represents an opportunity again for some of the fringe players to showcase why they deserve more minutes. Perhaps none more so than Aaron Ramsdale who has not featured since the win over Brentford in the previous round.
This is despite some relatively obvious struggles from David Raya in the time since. Arsenal will play the Spaniard’s parent club in the league soon and so again Ramsdale will need to play, the question is will he be able to show whether he can start?
In defence, there are opportunities for rotation but in the absence of Jurrien Timber, it remains relatively low. Jakub Kiwior is the obvious choice and with Gabriel Magalhaes sitting out the weekend’s game it makes sense for them to partner with one another.
Takehiro Tomiyasu is primed to start this weekend at left back and so therefore having Oleksandr Zinchenko start this midweek makes sense. The lack of depth at right-back is obvious and I still can't bring myself to start Cedric Soares in a competitive fixture and therefore Ben White continues.
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Into midfield and this is where the experience in the squad shines. Both Jorginho and Mohamed Elneny can provide a midfield foundation to build from and keep passing composed.
Emile Smith Rowe gets another opportunity to demonstrate his talents in an attacking midfield role. Martin Odegaard was revealed to be suffering from hip pain and so further rest will only be a benefit.
Up top is where most change can occur of course as Bukayo Saka makes way for the equally left-footed Fabio Vieira. The only fit natural striker and hat trick hero Eddie Nketiah comes out for Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard comes in on the left wing for Gabriel Martinelli.
Dream Arsenal XI vs West Ham United: Ramsdale; White, Kiwior, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Jorginho, Elneny, Smith Rowe, Vieira, Havertz, Trossard
