Arsenal vs AFC Wimbledon: 3 requirements to beat the Dons

For the first time ever, Arsenal and AFC Wimbledon will face off against each other when they meet in the third round of the Carabao Cup. Who doesn’t love a bit of history in the making?

Mikel Arteta and his side have somewhat steadied the ship with consecutive clean sheets and 1-0 Premier League wins over Norwich and Burnley.

As for the visitors, they are coming off the back of a 1-0 loss to Plymouth Argyle despite having more possession and more shots. The loss leaves Wimbledon seventh in the League One table, just four points behind leaders Wigan.

While they’re no pushovers, the Dons are the lowest ranked side Arteta will have faced in his short managerial career, topping Portsmouth in March 2020 who were third in League One at the time. What team will he select?

3 key aspects of Arsenal vs AFC Wimbledon for Mikel Arteta’s side to nail if they’re to beat the Dons in the EFL Cup third round.

The Gunners are, naturally, going to be huge favorites coming into the fixture and will be looking for a similar scoreline to when they demolished a young West Brom side 6-0 in their previous round. A place in the last 16 awaits.

Arsenal are the kings of the FA Cup. Not so much in this.

Twice in the club’s long history have they held aloft this particular trophy, first in 1987 when a brace from Charlie Nicholas secured a 2-1 win over Liverpool, and then again six years later when Steve Morrow’s 68th minute strike saw the Gunners beat Sheffield Wednesday by the same scoreline.

Since that day, and nobody will need reminding, Arsenal have reached the final on three occasions: A 2-1 loss to Chelsea in 2007 was followed by that infamous night against Birmingham in 2011, and then in 2018 Manchester City romped to a 3-0 success.

So, what does Arteta need to do to get his side past their League One opponents and take them one step closer to another final?

1. Start Strongly & Put the Dons on the Back Foot

When teams from the lower echelons come to one of the big boys in the competition there is a chance to assert yourself on the game right from the off. Dominate the ball.

For Arsenal, it is important to start the game well and grab that early goal. Putting AFC Wimbledon on the back foot early and forcing them to be more assertive plays right into Arteta’s hands. Either they open up, or the confidence wanes. It’s beneficial in both ways.

The worst thing that can happen from an Arsenal standpoint is for the visitors to still be in the game with the clock ticking down. This will breed confidence that a positive result can be attained, or, and this is crucial in the case of this competition, penalties will be fought for as if the game is level after 90 minutes then it’s straight to spot-kicks.

Without having their noses in front this will turn a rather regulation game into a bonafide banana skin match, and that is where nerves can get the better of players. Not ideal pre-Tottenham.

By scoring early, any anxiousness will dissipate from the side and they can then play their football. However, should the game be tight, the longer it goes, the worse it gets for Arsenal as the visitors will fancy their chances at sneaking a goal.

Facing a side lower on the football pyramid, getting off to a good start and getting an early lead is helpful in securing passage into the next round. For the sake of fitness and resting key players it helps, too.

It’s not the ‘magic of the FA Cup’, but never should the prospect of a Cupset be dispelled. Never.

2. Keep Moving AFC Wimbledon’s Around – Stay Patient

When many Premier League sides make the trip to north London, setting up defensively with two low blocks of four is usually the blueprint. Starting the match defensively sound and not allowing the small pockets of space the likes of Emile Smith Rowe, Martin Odegaard, and Bukayo Saka thrive on will go a long way in frustrating the Gunners.

For Arsenal, being patient and allowing the game to come to them is important as it will be clear that AFC Wimbledon will be set up to frustrate the home side. Being able to pick the defensive lock of the visitors’ defense patiently to avoid frustration is key.

It comes down to moving the ball, all the time. Stretch the play, shift the opposition from side to side and maintain tempo.

The longer the game goes without a goal, the more confident AFC Wimbledon will get and the more desperate Arsenal will turn. This is where the visitors can sneak a goal on the counter with some impressive, pacy forwards.

It is important not to get too impatient, move the ball around and try to find the alleys through to goal. And not to rush it. Let the game come to them. It is clear Arsenal will have the better players on the pitch, allow the talent to do the work and the spaces will open up eventually.

3. Be Wary of AFC Wimbledon’s Attacking Strengths

This goes without saying, but the Arsenal rearguard needs to limit the chances of the visitors. With changes likely, it will not be the first choice back four and goalkeeper. The likes of Rob Holding, Pablo Mari, Nuno Tavares, Cedric and Bernd Leno will all likely see action.

That back four and keeper have shown in recent times that they can be got at and it is important for them to remain compact and not allow any clear-cut chances. By letting the visitors in on goal, it will give them confidence that there is a Cupset to be had.

They may be seventh in League One, but Robinson’s side know where the back of the net is. In their eight outings this term they’ve netted 15 goals (and conceded 13), with Jack Rudoni and Will Nightingale grabbing three apiece in the division.

In terms of style, while it won’t be Burnley all over again, the Dons do like to hit the frontmen early with balls into space, and as a team they’re physically strong all over the park. They conceded a few goals, but they know boast assets that make them a goal threat.

Arsenal is overwhelming favourites to get past Wimbledon and make it to the next round. Nobody is kidding themselves. However, we have seen our fair share of upsets in cup competitions of previous years and Arteta can ill-afford being added to the list in 2021.

Those back-to-back wins would be forgotten about in a flash.