• The Arsenal

  • Arsenal - Preston, League Cup, Wednesday at 19h45 UK time

We play Preston North End, who are 16th in the Championship. Not a very good team. We can afford to experiment a little here. The main debates in this game would be

  • Porter vs Raya in goals
  • Zinchenko or MLS at left back, and if we go Zinchenko, do we play MLS at 8 or DM?
  • Which forward do we put in with Sterling and Jesus?

Potential lineup...

Martinelli Sterling Jesus
MLS Jorginho Nwaneri
Zinchenko - Kiwior - Saliba - Nichols
Raya

    Claudius changed the title to Arsenal - Preston, League Cup, Wednesday at 19h45 UK time.

    As you allude to, defence is the hardest area to call but I think what you've suggested makes the most sense. Would be interested to see MLS in midfield but I wonder if we play Merino since it feels like he's still finding his rhythm?

    Claudius

    Agree with that team but don’t risk Saliba. Play young Maldini or some other youth there instead. The juice is not worth the squeeze.

      Saliba just had a game off, he'll be fine for this.

      Gurgen Nah, red cards for violent-conduct are three-game bans. Saliba's was just a regular red. Like getting a second yellow. He served his ban against Liverpool and is available again.

          est yeah its one now. If he gets another similar red I think then he gets a 2 game ban.

            No point in playing Saliba, just to tempt faith, we are Arsenal, he will get injured.
            Neto can't play, poor guy will get 0 games this season.
            I would play Merino, he needs time on the pitch and Martinelli, the kid needs to score a few.
            In general White would have been ok to play, at CB, but he has been injured this season as well, so just don't risk it. This is Preston, at home. If we can't get a win without him or Saliba might as well pack it in. That beeing said Arteta will play a lot of the first 11, Partey, Rice, Saliba - White for sure, maybe even Saka.

            Martinelli Jesus Sterling
            Merino Jorginho Nwaneri
            Zinchenko - Kiwior - Whoever- MLS
            Raya

              HomeSteak part of the reason uou play Saliba is he makes the game so much easier for everyone. There are a lot of young or unfit players in that back line. Having Saliba will just help calm everyone down. Which means they’ll panic less, exert less energy, etc.

                  Claudius yeah we are going to play some first teamers and that's fine. As long as they aren't the ones with fitness issues or fatigue problems I don't see the big deal. Saliba makes sense as he's just had a rest.

                    est Ah I had that one wrong. In general I would say play whoever doesn't play on the weekend. Who cares about this shit cup.

                      League Cup vs lower opposition.....best be playing the kids Arteta!

                      Shame that Tomiyasu isn't fit for this.

                        Sicario2 - Tier 1 to the point made above about Saliba (Claudius ), I think it'd be reckless to pick a 'keeper with no senior appearances in that backline. Players don't operate in a vacuum so there needs to be some more experience in organising the defence.

                              Don Pacifico Yep, even though its against a poor poor team that is languishing in 16th in the championship, but you still need a little semblance of experience. It's either Saliba or Raya playing there for me, although I think both playing would be ideal in an away game.

                              I think playing Saliba would be fine actually