We begin our Carabao Cup campaign with a third round tie against Brighton & Hove Albion, hoping to take a first step towards lifting the trophy for the first time since 1993.
In what will be our last home game before the World Cup break, we will aim to win a 12th game in a row at the Emirates Stadium, which will put us within striking distance of our best ever winning streak at the venue, which is the 13th
Kick-off is at 7.45pm (UK time), with the tie going straight to penalties in the event of a tie after 90 minutes. The draw for the fourth round will take place on Thursday night after the Manchester United-Aston Villa game.
Brighton head to north London sixth in the Premier League table, ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea, who lured Graham Potter to Stamford Bridge in September after his excellent work on the south coast over the past three seasons.
Four wins from their first six games before Potter’s departure had left Albion in the top four, and the upheaval following the appointment of Robert De Zerbi understandably meant a run of five games without a win, although three of last season’s top six faced each other during that time.
However, a 4-1 thrashing of the Blues on Potter’s return ended that slump in style, and victory over Wolves last weekend has really stopped the rot. Progress in the Carabao Cup was also achieved with a 3-0 win at Forest Green Rovers with a much-changed side averaging 22 years of age.
Michael Cox, writing in the official program of the day: De Zerbi has largely stuck with Potter’s staff since taking over. Lewis Dunk and Adam Webster are the central defensive partnership, but at times Joel Veltman has joined them as part of a back three. He can move to right-back if needed, while Pevis Estupinan offers an attacking threat from left-back.
Adam Lallana often plays the number 10 role, with Pascal Gross the alternative if not required elsewhere. On the right, Solly March is enjoying a good campaign, showing guile from the outside and also acting as a goal threat at the far post, while Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo have formed a good midfield pairing.
De Zerbi may try to rotate his squad, and there are players who need minutes as Brighton have given just 14 Premier League starts this season.
Arteta: “I know Roberto well, I have followed him, I think he is an extraordinary coach with very clear ideas that I really like to see and tomorrow they will put us to a great test.
“We don’t know what they will do with the selection of teams, that’s for sure. And they don’t know what we’re going to do either, so I think we’re both going to be in the same place. Every coach has their own way of playing and they are very consistent in many things they do, and we will prepare for the game expecting more of the same as they have done.” – hear much more from Mikel on the game
From Zerbi: “It will be a test for many players, but when we wear the Brighton shirt, we have to play seriously and we have to try to win. For me, Arsenal is a very important game, I can make some changes in the starting eleven, but we prepare for the cup as if it were a Premier League game.
“Arsenal is a very good team and Mikel is a very good coach. I like his safe style of play. With Jesus and Zinchenko they find the best mentality because these players know how to win, they have won the Premier League. They help their colleagues find the right mindset.”
Takehiro Tomiyasu continues to be monitored after he limped off against FC Zurich last week, but is expected to be fit for the World Cup.
Matt Turner returned to the bench for the weekend win against Chelsea following his groin injury, while Emile Smith Rowe continues to undergo rehabilitation following groin surgery. – Hear more from Mikel about the strength that will select a formation
Brighton’s only injury concern is Jakub Moder, who is likely to be sidelined for most of the campaign after tearing his ACL in pre-season, while De Zerbi has announced goalkeeper Luke Steele will get the nod between the sticks
We have progressed from 18 of our last 19 League Cup third round ties, losing the other 2-1 at home to Southampton in 2014/15. Last season we defeated AFC Wimbledon 3-0 in our run to the semi-finals.
We last faced Brighton in the League Cup in 1979/80, winning 4-0 in a fourth-round replay, with Frank Stapleton and Paul Vaessen scoring twice.
Since arriving in the Premier League in 2017/18, Brighton have faced top-flight opposition five times in the League Cup and been knocked out on each occasion. Their last win in this competition against a Premier League side was in August 2011 against Sunderland.
Jarred Gillett returns to the Emirates Stadium for the second time this season, having scored in our win against Fulham in August. This was their third meeting as Gunners, and we have won them all.
In his six Premier League outings this season, he has shown 23 yellow cards but no reds, and is yet to concede a penalty.
VAR is not in operation in this season’s competition
Since Brighton have been in the top flight, they have lost just twice in five visits, without winning any of their first eight trips between November 1979 and May 2019.
In April, they won 2-1 thanks to goals from Leandro Trossard and Enock Mwepu, and Martin Odegaard pulled one back with a minute to go. However, we won the meeting before then 2-0 in May 2021 thanks to a brace from Nicolas Pepe.
Our other previous success in the last five years was in October 2017, when Nacho Monreal and Alex Iwobi scored in a 2-0 win, with Granit Xhaka, Mohamed Elneny and Rob Holding all involved.
As the game is not broadcast anywhere in the world, Breakdown Live is home to exclusive live commentary of our third round qualifier.
As well as analyzing Sunday’s win at Stamford Bridge and working out where we can get the win against the Seagulls, Nicole Holliday and Adrian Clarke will be pitchside from 6.45pm UK time with inspirational Gooner Steve Salmon, who recently broke his own world record on the course. London Marathon for the fastest recorded time in a non-racing wheelchair.
Ahead of his fight on the Dillian Whyte undercard against Jermaine Franklin, ex-Great Britain boxer Chev Clarke will also be joining us on the My Arsenal Rewards box to talk about his pre-fight preparation, while you won’t miss a beat of the action. thanks to exclusive live commentary from Dan Roebuck and Arsenal’s invincible Jeremie Aliadiere.
Make sure you tune in from 6.45pm on Arsenal.com and the official app.
Copyright 2022 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted on the condition that appropriate credit is given to www.arsenal.com as the source.
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