LONDON, ENGLAND — Arsenal are set to make several changes to their starting lineup when they visit Ipswich Town in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening, with Mikel Arteta expected to rotate his squad while maintaining the momentum of a perfect start to the season.
The Gunners have enjoyed an outstanding beginning to the campaign, keeping their 100 per cent record intact with a stunning win against Sunderland. However, with another Premier League clash against Brighton looming on Saturday, Arteta is expected to give his fringe players an opportunity to impress at Portman Road.
Midfielder Martin Zubimendi is one player who is expected to see an increase in his playing time. The Spain international, who has been gradually integrated into the squad since his summer arrival, is tipped to start against the Tractor Boys as Arteta looks to manage the workload of his first-choice midfielders. Zubimendi’s technical ability and tactical intelligence make him an ideal candidate to control the tempo of the game against lower-league opposition.
Bruno Guimaraes is another player expected to return to the starting XI, despite the debate over whether the Brazil international should be rested after his stunning start to life at the Emirates. The midfielder has been one of Arsenal’s standout performers this season, and Arteta may opt to give him another run-out to maintain his match sharpness.
Viktor Gyokeres is expected to lead the line in the third-round clash. The striker has struggled to find the net since his summer move, but he is tipped to enjoy a breakthrough in the Carabao Cup tie. A goal against Ipswich could provide the confidence boost he needs to kick-start his Arsenal career.
There is also huge interest in whether 16-year-old Max Dowman will be given his first taste of first-team football. The young gun has featured in nearly an hour’s worth of action for Arsenal’s Under-21s this weekend and has even trained with the first team on Monday. This has led to speculation that Arteta could hand Dowman his debut against Ipswich. However, a contrasting prediction suggests that the teenager could come off the bench for his first taste of senior action, allowing him to ease into the demands of first-team football.
Eberechi Eze is another player in contention for a starting berth as he looks to build on his three substitute appearances this season. The midfielder is expected to earn his first domestic start for the Gunners in the encounter against Ipswich, giving Arteta another attacking option in midfield.
Arteta is also set to make changes in defence, with Piero Hincapie, Cristhian Mosquera, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Marli Salmon all set to challenge for places in the backline. As usual, there is also a dilemma to solve in goal, with Kepa Arrizabalaga and David Raya both being touted as potential candidates to start against Ipswich. One prediction suggests that Kepa will start between the sticks, but another predicts that Raya should retain his place if Arsenal are to progress to the next round.
The Carabao Cup represents an opportunity for Arsenal to give valuable minutes to their squad players while maintaining their push for silverware on multiple fronts. With a busy fixture list ahead, Arteta will be keen to keep his squad fresh and competitive. The match against Ipswich is expected to provide a stern test, with the Tractor Boys eager to cause an upset on home soil. However, Arsenal’s depth and quality should be enough to see them through, as they bid to keep their impressive start to the season on track.
