Arsenal will certainly face a stern test when Crystal Palace arrive at the Emirates Stadium for a quarter-final EFL Cup tie on Wednesday.
So far in the competition, Arsenal have enjoyed relatively straight forward wins over lower-division sides Bolton Wanderers and Preston North End.
Mikel Arteta rang the changes for those games, and seems likely to do so again even if Arsenal are facing a Palace side with renewed confidence under Oliver Glasner.
Palace will be bouncing after a derby day win against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday, and Glasner has seemingly recognised the competition as a serious chance to win a trophy.
The away side have arguably been at full strength in all three of their EFL cup ties this season, which could cause a problem for the Gunners.
Arsenal could turn to Maldini Kacurri against Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup
Of course, it’ll be interesting to see if Eddie Nketiah features for the away team, a striker whose only goal since leaving north London in the summer came in the competition.
And if he does play, Nketiah could be pitched against 19-year-old Arsenal defender Maldini Kacurri, who seems set for another call up in the EFL Cup.
Maldini Kacurri of Arsenal takes on Aladji Bamba of Monaco during the UEFA Youth league match between Arsenal U19 and AS Monaco U19 at Meadow Park ...
Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
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Kacurri, who regularly captains Arsenal under-21s, featured as a sub during the 5-1 win over Bolton but then wasn’t called up for the away trip to Preston.
Although, it seems as if the centre-back will be in the squad in some capacity on Wednesday given that he wasn’t involved for Arsenal under-21s in their defeat to Sunderland on Monday.
Kacurri was included on the bench alongside Josh Nichols but didn’t play a minute, suggesting that he’s being held back for the first team.
When fit and available, Kacurri is an automatic starter for Mehmet Ali’s team, someone he recently hailed as ‘excellent’.
Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly ready to lead the way in EFL Cup
Of course, a lot of Arsenal fans will be tuning in to see two different Hale End Academy youngsters in mid-week.
Both Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly should start the game, unless the latter is being saved for Arsenal’s second game in a row against Palace in the Premier League on Saturday.
Lewis-Skelly amazed Arsenal fans against Everton, even if the home side weren’t able to score and take three points.
But those kinds of results are certainly a lot more tolerable for all in N5 when they’re getting to see the club’s youngsters play serious minutes.
And whilst many will look forward to similar against Palace on Wednesday, the game could be a potential banana skin given the strength of Glasner’s sides in the competition as mentioned.
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