Arsenal are in Carabao Cup action this evening, taking on Bolton at the Emirates. As expected, Mikel Arteta has made some changes.
Here are the official line-ups.
Arsenal: Porter, Nichols, Kiwior, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Jorginho, Rice, Nwaneri, Sterling, Saka, Jesus
Subs: Rojas, Saliba, Gabriel, Partey, Kacurri, Heaven, Havertz, Martinelli, Kabia
Bolton: Southwood, Dacres-Cogley, Forino, Santos, Toal, Williams, Sheehan, Dempsey, Arfield, McAtee, Collins
Subs: Baxter, Johnston, Schon, Inwood, Matheson, Matete, Thomason, Adeboyejo, Charles
Please don’t let Raya be out for long
It’s a precaution according to @Gunnerblog
Can’t believe Raya is wearing the duck mask
Please explain ‘duck mask’!?
I hope Raya’s absence is just precautionary! We’re in trouble if he’s missing for any extended period of time.
Time for Porter to show why he’s so highly regarded. I can’t imagine what it must be like for a 16-year-old to be making his Arsenal senior debut at the Emirates! Good for him and good luck today!
It’s a precaution according to @DrGooner.
Pretty sure he got the exclusive on that one…
Exclusive to me and his 439.7 K followers
Gunnerblog has got half a million followers???
Man, he should start an onlyfans.
Great, that’s a visual I’m not going to be able to unsee
Need to set the tone and dominate possession against these cloggers, who are going to try and kick us at every opportunity, especially with the inexperience at the back.
I half expected to see Big Sam on the sidelines, not gonna lie. But this is a very different Bolton. They are trying to play a savvy mid-block, but it’s all very Meh.
Nearly called the team but had Martinelli and Heaven starting, best of luck lads nice to see young lads plenty experience and guys who should be pushing hard .
Hopefully performance from jesus , worried about saka starting but in Mikel we trust
Saka???
In a Carabao Cup match against the League 2 side Bolton?
Lmao. Why is Saka starting ffs?
With Nichols and Nwaneri on his side of the pitch I’ll be happy enough to see him for an hour. He knows how to look after himself and it will be interesting to see how they play together. Hopefully Kabia will replace him before the hour with the game won. Plus great bonus for all the kids who attend the Carabo Cup who wouldn’t normally get to a game, seeing Saka in the flesh.
What are you talking about?
The minute he came off against city I thought “yup, resting him up for the Bolton game”.
I was surprised as well. I think it has to do with Trossard being unavailable and Martinelli and Havertz went the distance in that slog at City.
Honestly don’t mind him getting some pressure free minutes alongside Nwaneri. Won’t play the full 90, and not sure who else could fill in with Trossard being suspended. Rather give Martinelli a rest after 200 minutes worth of running he put in Sunday
Well, he only played 45 minutes on Sunday. Martinelli, on the other hand, played the entire game – including the utterly exhausting second half with only 10 men.
I totally agree with you. Don’t understand all the downvotes.
If you can’t rest Saka for this game then when can you rest him?
Rice too should be on the bench.
He had the second half off against City and was withdrawn at 72 minutes at Atalanta. Hopefully he helps us score a couple and then can give way to Kabia.
I expect martinelli on at some point- this is a great game to play himself into better form and build confidence.
As B-sided as we have wished. COYG!
wow the back 5 is… fresh blood
Hopefully doesnt go to penalties as our goalie has to up early for school tomorrow
Hahahaha! Good one…got me laughing out loud at work…
It’s ok, he’s only got PE first thing
Timber not even on the bench? Any news?
Played 270 hard minutes last week – give him a rest.
From an academy perspective, I thought we might see Oulad M’Hand involved. Also, minor gripe, the Arsenal.com squad page for the “Academy” doesn’t have any goalkeepers, nor can I find any one of Kabia, Nichols or Kacurri among the players listed. Maybe there’s an explanation?
https://www.arsenal.com/academy/players
As far as I can tell, no-one under the age of 18 is listed on the official website. Legal issue regarding minors, maybe?
That would make sense, I guess?
Insert joke about not knowing about the law, but then I guess I’m in good company with City, etc etc
I am excited. This is exciting! I’ve not seen a lineup like this in years and looking forward to seeing what the young lads can bring to the first team
Not since the last time we played Bolton in the League Cup back in 2011:
Fabianski
Miquel, Squillaci, Vermaelen, Yennaris
Coquelin, Benayoun, Frimpong
Oxlade-Chamberlain, Park Chu-Young, Arshavin
Mannone, Boateng, Meade, Aneke, Ozyakup, Watt, Miyaichi
That was a fun few years. The honorary Carlos Vela League Cup chipped goal in the late noughties.
Yikes! Banter era special. I actually remember the Park Chu Young winner, his best moment in an Arsenal shirt.
Pretty much his only moment in an Arsenal shirt.
I can’t believe the headline wasn’t the fact we’ve got a 16-year-old starting in goal for us!
Hopefully he doesn’t have many crosses/set-pieces to deal with, as I’d imagine they might be a bit intimidating for someone not used to playing against full-grown adults.
Line up is ok and we should be able to handle Bolton. We should expect a bit of disjointed game because these are not our regulars but we should have snuff to deal with Bolton. Special mention for Kiwior. regardless of performance tonight, let us cut Kiwior some slacks. I have seen many people criticize him whenever he plays on the right side of defense and not play well. He does excellently and better on the left instead. I dont think we would be fair and considerate of Kiwior if we judge him based on the ‘righ-side’ performance.. We cannot… Read more »
I rate Kiwior. Outstanding option to have in the squad. Not a LB though it shows his versatility that he played so many minutes for us there.
Saka should be rested here, put sterling on the right and play martinelli, martinelli just needs a goal for his confidence and today was the day for that I feel…….looking forward to watching this though which I’ll admit is very rare for a round 3 carabao COYG
plus side to Saka playing is some actual game time with Nwaneri. Has to help. But hey get him off after 45 regardless.
Hmm. I reckon Dempsey could well be Brylcreem’s biggest customer these days.
He looks like he’s been dipped, head first, into a bucket of the stuff.
That first time ball across the box has been missing in our game. Love to see it. I hope we get to see more of that in the coming games.
Half time. Cold analytic take: Ethan Nwaneri is ready for the first team against a low/mid block team where we expect to have the ball. I want to see him combing with Saka, like right now. That central dribble penetration is going to SIZZLE. These statements have nothing to do with the goal, though I’m obv happy for him to get it.