Mikel Arteta's project requires silverware, and the Carabao Cup represents Arsenal's best chance of a trophy this season.
The Gunners have struggled in the domestic cup competitions since Arteta's debut campaign, but they've barely had to get out of first gear to advance into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals this term.
Arteta has rotated his favoured XI heavily for routine triumphs over Bolton and Preston, but the Spaniard is unlikely to tinker too much for Crystal Palace's visit on Wednesday. This is a big game for the Gunners.
Arsenal are still without a litany of full-backs but are otherwise healthy after Gabriel returned to the XI on Saturday. Here's how the Gunners could line up against Palace on Wednesday night.
Myles Lewis-Skelly
Teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly has started back-to-back games for the Gunners / Catherine Ivill - AMA/GettyImages
GK: David Raya - Raya is yet to feature in this competition with Arsenal deploying a couple of youngsters in rounds three and four. However, the club's number one is poised for a starting berth on Wednesday.
RB: Jurrien Timber - Arteta won't want to burn Timber out before Christmas, but he hasn't got much choice but to start the Dutchman here. Teenager Josh Nichols could be in the squad.
CB: William Saliba - The excellent Saliba continues to impress at the heart of Arsenal's defence, and he'll be tasked with taming the in-form Ismaila Sarr in transition.
CB: Gabriel - Gabriel was back in the XI at the weekend and immediately made an impact as he superbly blocked Abdoulaye Doucoure's goal-bound effort. The Brazilian could meet a familiar face in Eddie Nketiah on Wednesday.
LB: Myles Lewis-Skelly - The Hale End graduate has started back-to-back games and looks at ease. With Arsenal still without several full-backs, Lewis-Skelly could continue in the XI.
CM: Thomas Partey - Partey can do a job at right-back, but his inclusion in the backline is not ideal for attacking balance. The Gunners are a far better team with the Ghanaian in the middle of the park, and he should return to the base of midfield against the Eagles.
CM: Declan Rice - Arteta is managing Rice, who only played an hour on Saturday, but the England international has shown signs of returning to his best form over the past month. With Partey back in midfield, Rice could perform a more advanced role on the left side of Arsenal's triumvirate.
CM: Martin Odegaard - The skipper has endured a couple of disappointing outings on the spin, and Arsenal are often bereft of inspiration when Odegaard fails to fire. Ethan Nwaneri is a contender to start, but the Norway international only played an hour on Saturday and will be desperate to ignite the Emirates with a dazzling performance in the cup.
RW: Bukayo Saka - Arsenal's star down the right has been an inevitable force this season, with teams making concerted efforts to slow him down. Arteta is hesitant to offer Saka respite, so he'll likely be involved from the start in midweek.
ST: Kai Havertz - The Gunners' forward options are once again being brought into question ahead of the January transfer window, but a marquee arrival is unlikely this winter. Havertz hasn't been great in recent starts, but he'll be preferred to Gabriel Jesus here.
LW: Raheem Sterling - Arteta may as well start using him. Sterling's not going to be in north London for very long and he surely can't do much worse than what Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have been producing as of late.
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