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Arsenal vs AFC Wimbledon EFL Cup preview: How to watch, lineups, injury updates & prediction

By Ross Kennerley

WIMBLEDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 14: Dapo Mebude of AFC Wimbledon celebrates after scoring their team's third goal during the Sky Bet League One match between AFC Wimbledon and Bolton Wanderers at Plough Lane on August 14, 2021 in Wimbledon, England. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Getty Images)
WIMBLEDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 14: Dapo Mebude of AFC Wimbledon celebrates after scoring their team's third goal during the Sky Bet League One match between AFC Wimbledon and Bolton Wanderers at Plough Lane on August 14, 2021 in Wimbledon, England. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, AFC Wimbledon
Arsenal vs AFC Wimbledon: EFL Cup third round preview as Mikel Arteta has the opportunity to hand out debuts to his exciting Under-23 stars. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Getty Images) /

Midweek football is back! Fresh from successive Premier League victories there is no seven-day spell without action as AFC Wimbledon make the short journey north to the Emirates Stadium for Wednesday’s EFL Cup third round clash.

The mood and the domestic league table have both taken a turn for the better in the past couple of weeks in what is best described as a ‘stablising’ period for Arsenal.

No mention of corners being turned or charges towards the European places can take place just yet. But the atmosphere has mellowed after the horror start to the season and there is a very presentable opportunity to make it three wins on the bounce coming up.

Tearing West Brom apart 6-0 in the second round, the draw has admittedly been kind to Arsenal. On the one hand, having no European football means that if there is midweek action it wouldn’t be all too bad for the competition to be of a higher level. This team will only improve the more it plays against stronger opposition.

Arsenal vs AFC Wimbledon: EFL Cup third round preview as Mikel Arteta has the opportunity to hand out debuts to his exciting Under-23 stars

Equally, it’d be nice to win this trophy. Arsenal don’t have many options to lift silverware this season and a League One outfit on home soil is one of the kinder ways of edging closer to a Wembley showpiece.

But perhaps most importantly of all, there is a squad at Mikel Arteta’s disposal that is in need of earning minutes. The Premier League team near enough picks itself and without Europa League group stage matches to hand minutes to fringe players, AFC Wimbledon on Wednesday is about as perfect a platform for rotation as the manager can get.

How heavily will he rotate, though?

A strong side travelled north to the Hawthorns last time out and Arteta has never been one for heavily rotating in cup matches, so it’ll be intriguing to see.

There are a few who, surely, will get a run out.

How to Watch on TV

When Is Kick Off? Wednesday 22 September
What Time Is Kick Off? 19:45 (GMT)
Where Is it Played? Emirates Stadium
TV Channel/Live Stream? Not televised (UK) fuboTV (USA)
Referee? Jarred Gillett

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