Alexis-Sanchez-Arsenal
Arsenal travel to face League Two side Fleetwood Town this evening, looking to move one step closer to potentially securing glory in this season’s edition of the Carabao Cup.
Mikel Arteta will certainly not take the lower-league opposition lightly, but will want to rotate his senior squad with a clash against Liverpool looming this weekend.
So, that being said, what possible changes could the Spaniard make against Matt Lawlor’s men at Highbury Stadium this evening?
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta applauds fans after the match
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta applauds fans after the match
Arsenal's team news to face Fleetwood Town
Although Arsenal manager Arteta has no new fresh injury concerns to contend with, he will likely make a handful of changes to allow some fringe members of the squad to showcase their talents.
Martin Zubimendi is yet to start a game in the Champions League this campaign, he could well be handed another chance to start in the Carabao Cup.
Martin-Zubimendi-Arsenal
Other fringe players such as Cristian Mosquera, Mikel Merino and Viktor Gyökeres are in line for starts to get needed minutes under their belt after a slow start to the campaign.
Another opportunity could arise for teenage star Marli Salmon, with the defender often being one of the academy stars handed a chance to start in cup competitions.
However, the likes of Bukayo Saka and Christos Tzolis are both still sidelined for the clash against Fleetwood, though the latter is said to be making good progress after his injury setback.
Why Arteta's biggest issue could trouble Arsenal vs Fleetwood
The injuries within attacking areas will certainly be a concern to Arteta, who’s now got limited options available to him for this evening’s Carabao Cup meeting.
Kai Havertz, the Gunners’ usual starting striker, will no doubt be rested for the clash, whilst Noni Madueke could also sit out of the meeting with the League Two side.
Kai-Havertz-Arsenal
Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
The Englishman has been tasked with replacing the goods off the right-hand side in Saka’s absence, and in turn, the manager may want to avoid risking playing him tonight.
Gyokeres will no doubt be handed the nod at the top end of the pitch, but his inability to provide the goods were evident during the previous round clash with Ipswich Town.
The Swedish international only registered 18 touches during his 90-minute showing that night, with the centre-forward struggling for opportunities due to the opposition’s low-block.
Such a situation will undoubtedly be evident again in tonight’s meeting, but given the sheer difference in quality between the two teams, his struggles may be highlighted on a bigger scale.
Why Arteta must unleash Arsenal's next Sanchez tonight
In what’s expected to be a tricky game for Arsenal to navigate this evening, Arteta will need players who are capable of unlocking the Fleetwood backline in his starting eleven.
The injury situation has made the ask even trickier for the Spaniard, especially if he wants to rest some of the senior members of the squad ahead of the weekend’s clash.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta looks dejected after the match
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta looks dejected after the match
However, it could prove to be the perfect game to unleash teenage star Max Dowman, who has consistently provided the goods when called upon since his debut.
The 16-year-old netted two goals in the previous round of the competition and should be handed another opportunity to showcase his talents to the Gunners faithful.
His showing against the Tractor Boys in round three was one which has seen him be compared to former fan-favourite Alexis Sanchez - a huge statement given the levels achieved by the Chilean.
The attacker’s direct dribbling and quick-footed nature have contributed to the comparison, with Dowman managing to complete the most dribbles of any player on the pitch at Portman Road.
He even added the finishing touches to his mazy runs against Gary O’Neil’s men, as seen by his tally of two goals scored - helping the Gunners claim a 4-2 victory.
The youngster’s ability to also provide constant opportunities in attacking areas has seen him emulate Sanchez, who managed to register 41 assists during his time at the Emirates.
Max Dowman
Max Dowman
Whilst Dowman was unable to lay on a goal for his teammates, he did create two chances against Ipswich - one of which was a big-chance - showcasing his ability to cause constant carnage in forward areas.
However, since such a performance, he’s only been handed 24 minutes worth of senior action, with Arteta needing to rectify such a lack of minutes this evening.
His direct and fearless nature could work perfectly in Arsenal’s attempts to break down the hosts’ low-block and try and be the latest team to suffer a cup upset.
The sky truly is the limit for the talented teenager, and he could easily surpass Sanchez’s achievements in North London, but he needs to be handed a consistent run to reach such a level.