Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Arsenal could line up for Wednesday’s EFL Cup third-round clash with Bolton Wanderers.
Raheem Sterling could be among five players to make their full debuts for Arsenal in Wednesday’s EFL Cup third-round clash with Bolton Wanderers at the Emirates.
The Chelsea loanee has been restricted to substitute minutes since his deadline-day arrival, but he will surely now benefit from the suspension of Leandro Trossard, who was sent off for two bookable offences in the 2-2 draw with Manchester City at the weekend.
The banned Belgian joins Mikel Merino (shoulder), Martin Odegaard (ankle), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf) and Kieran Tierney (hamstring) in the Emirates treatment room, while Neto cannot play either, as he is cup-tied from representing Bournemouth earlier in the competition.
Mikel Arteta will therefore have to hope that David Raya can shake off an apparent knock to start in goal, as third-choice Tommy Setford is also said to be working his way back from an injury. If not, the Spaniard may have to press the panic button and start 16-year-old Jack Porter.
Ben White came through the second half of the City match unscathed, despite being dropped due to a fitness concern, and Arteta may be forced to bring in the Englishman after Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber seized up towards the end of that draw.
Jakub Kiwior will surely earn a rare start too, and Arteta could also throw caution to the wind by handing full debuts to teenagers Ayden Heaven and Myles Lewis-Skelly, the latter of whom only made his senior bow at the Etihad.
Two more players yet to start a senior game for Arsenal, Ethan Nwaneri and Salah Oulad M’Hand, are candidates to feature alongside the experienced Jorginho in the middle, as Declan Rice and Thomas Partey are due a break.
However, Bukayo Saka should be fine to go again, having been substituted at half time at the weekend following Trossard’s sending-off, while Gabriel Jesus could link arms with ex-City teammate Sterling in the final third.
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; White, Heaven, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; S Oulad M’Hand, Jorginho; Saka, Nwaneri, Sterling; Jesus
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