Arsenal are without a number of key players for tonight’s Carabao Cup clash with London rivals Brentford as Mikel Arteta shuffles his pack.
The games are piling up thick and fast for the Gunners now the Champions League has returned, placing a much greater strain on Arteta’s squad.
CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW BRENTFORD VS ARSENAL LIVE!
Declan Rice has not yet trained since being forced off in the north London derby, ruling him out of tonight’s clash at the Gtech Community Stadium. Bukayo Saka, meanwhile, also came off on Sunday and is not risked.
Leandro Trossard is absent once more and Gabriel Martinelli remains unavailable, while Thomas Partey and Jurrien Timber are long-term absentees.
David Raya was eligible despite being on loan from Brentford but Arteta affords Aaron Ramsdale a start as he looks to rotate his options.
Emile Smith Rowe is handed his first competitive Arsenal start in almost 500 days, while Jorginho captains the side in midfield. Eddie Nketiah leads the line, with Gabriel Jesus on the bench, while there is a debut for teenager Charles Sagoe Jr.
Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Kiwior; Jorginho, Havertz, Smith Rowe; Nelson, Sagoe Jr, Nketiah
Subs: Hein, Cedric, Sweet, Walters, Zinchenko, Elneny, Odegaard, Cozier-Duberry, Jesus
Time and date: 7.45pm BST on Thursday 28 September, 2023
Venue: Gtech Community Stadium
