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

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

Continued on next page…

Arsenal Team News vs Wimbeldon – Emile Smith Rowe & Partey Fit?

How will Arteta approach this one? Not one for ‘weakening’ his teams in cup competitions, even he will see that this is a a favourable draw for Arsenal and one that comes days before a pivotal North London Derby later in the week.

He’ll have a fit and healthy squad to choose from too. It’s looking in good shape.

There are some concerns, though, as the three players who came off in the 1-0 win over Burnley all did so voluntarily. Kieran Tierney came off late after feeling cramp and it was the same situation for Emile Smith Rowe and Thomas Partey.

All three are thought to be OK given the diagnoses, although even if fully fit and available it’s unlikely any of the trio were due to start on Wednesday. Smith Rowe could potentially.

Rob Holding is also back for Arteta as he was a surprise inclusion in the Burnley squad, although Wednesday will come too soon for Mohamed Elneny as he builds up fitness following a hamstring strain.

Granit Xhaka will serve the final of his three-match suspension for the EFL Cup tie, fitting in nicely for the visit of Tottenham. He will certainly be having his eye on that one.

Mark Robinson will be without key defender Paul Kalambayi for the trip across the capital, but otherwise has a fit squad.

Continued on next page…

Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs Burnley – Charlie Patino Debut?

Arsenal: Leno; Chambers, Holding, Mari, Tavares; Sambi Lokonga, Maitland-Niles, Martinelli, Smith Rowe, Nketiah; Lacazette

AFC Wimbledon: Tzanev; Alexander, Heneghan, Nightingale, Lawrence; Woodyard, Hartigan, Chislett, McCormick, Assal; Pressley

Arsenal vs AFC Wimbledon Score Prediction

There is a considerable gulf in class between these two sides, albeit an interesting comparison in the dugouts: Mark Robinson is also in his first managerial role at AFC Wimbledon.

It will come down to quality on the pitch and this should, in theory, be quite a comfortable win for the home side. While a brilliant occasion for Wimbledon and one they thoroughly deserve, their focus is on securing promotion from League One. They’ve got nothing to lose in this one and might try and make a fist of it. Why not?

Arteta’s lineup will be fascinating as there will be no better opportunity to field some of the club’s academy stars, or least give them memorable minutes late on. It’s unlikely that he’ll go with any debuts from the start but expect some spots on the bench for the likes of Charlie Patino, Kido Taylor-Hart and Omari Hutchinson, who have all impressed in the Under-23 side.

Which striker does he go for, too? Lacazette, Nketiah and Balogun are all vying for minutes and if you’d ask supporters there is only one of those three who should be on the pitch.

As for the game it, well, should be comfortable. Arteta will obviously take this seriously but with an eye on Sunday’s North London Derby, and getting some goals on the board nice and early to save energy will be the game plan.

It should be a fun evening. Hopefully the visitors don’t sit back and hold out for penalties (they might) and we’re treated to a decent encounter.

One that however it goes is Arsenal’s to lose.

Score Prediction: Arsenal 3-0 AFC Wimbledon