Arsenal face familiar faces Nicklas Bendtner and Henri Lansbury in the EFL Cup third round fixture against Nottingham Forest this evening.
The Gunners won their last league fixture in convincing fashion, dismantling newly-promoted Hull City 4-1 at the KCOM Stadium. However, few of the players who started and starred in that win are likely to feature against Nottingham Forest, with Wenger traditionally using the EFL Cup to rotate his squad and give youth a chance.
Forest, meanwhile, have suffered with patchy form this season, and have failed to win their last three league encounters, losing 2-1 to Norwich in their last game. However, they boast ex-Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner, and their captain, Henri Lansbury, is another former Gunner. Both will no doubt be keen to make their mark as they face their former club, and the towering Dane could well make his first start for the club. Left-back Armand Traore is another who came through the ranks at Arsenal, and may feature as well.
Despite the likely changes, Arsenal have a deep squad, and will still name a strong team. In defence, 20-year-old Rob Holding could start, while full-backs Kieran Gibbs and Mathieu Debuchy are likely to come in.
Granit Xhaka, who scored a wonder-goal off the bench against Hull, could partner Mohamed Elneny in midfield, while new boy Lucas Perez should get another chance to impress up front.
The fringe players will no doubt look to impress, and it is Chamberlain, Xhaka and Lucas who have the most viable claim for a regular starting spot, and must use this opportunity to reinstate themselves in Wenger’s thinking.
Forest are without Damien Perquis, Britt Assombalonga and Thomas Lam due to injury, while Arsenal’s Per Mertesacker, Danny Welbeck, Carl Jenkinson (all knee), Olivier Giroud (toe) and Aaron Ramsey (hamstring) all absent. Gabriel Paulista has just returned from an ankle injury though, and could start alongside Holding or come off the bench.
Arsenal Predicted Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Ospina; Gibbs, Holding, Mustafi, Debuchy; Xhaka, Elneny; Reine-Adelaide, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott; Lucas Perez
Nottingham Forest Predicted Starting XI (4-3-3): Stojkovic; Traore, Perquis, Mills, Lichaj; Grant, Lansbury, Kasami; Dumitru, Vellios, Osborn
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