Arsenal will travel to Ipswich Town in the third round of the Carabao Cup as they look to improve their wretched record in the competition.
The tie at Portman Road will be played in the week commencing 14 September, sandwiched between tricky trips to Sunderland and Brighton.
The Gunners haven’t won the League Cup since 1992/93, a final predominantly remembered for match-winner Steve Morrow breaking his arm after being dropped by Tony Adams during the post-game celebrations.
Legend has it the Northern Ireland midfielder, robbed of a chance to collect his winner’s medal, was so incensed that he placed a curse on the club. Frankly, the evidence is becoming difficult to ignore.
Since the Morrow Curse was unleashed, Arsenal have reached four League Cup finals and lost the lot, first to Chelsea in 2006/07 and then three times to Manchester City, most recently in March. In total, the Gunners have now lost seven finals in the competition, two more than any other side in England.
Thirty-three years on, perhaps 2026/27 will finally be the season somebody works out how to lift it.
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Third Round Draw
Crystal Palace vs Middlesbrough
Manchester United vs Brighton
Manchester City vs Norwich City
Sunderland vs Hull City
Ipswich Town vs Arsenal
Coventry vs Aston Villa
Bournemouth vs Lincoln
Liverpool vs Sp*rs
Chelsea or Luton vs Leeds United
Millwall vs Newcastle
Fleetwood Town vs Sheffield United
Everton vs Wolves
Leyton Orient vs Bradford
Reading vs Brentford
Peterborough vs Barnsley
West Ham vs Fulham or AFC Wimbledon