After beating Everton 2-1, Arsenal will travel to Hillsborough for their Capital One Cup round of 16 clash against Sheffield Wednesday high on confidence. Manager Arsene Wenger is expected to make few changes to the squad and rest his players for the upcoming matches. He also revealed that Petr Cech, Callum Chambers and Joel Campbell will start later tonight.
While speaking to Arsenal.com, Wenger said, “Ospina is still out too, so Cech will certainly play. When you get the chance, you have to be ready. To be ready, you have to prepare. I must say that Joel Campbell and Calum Chambers are two players who do absolutely everything right. They are prepared, the preparation they have created will give them the confidence against Sheffield Wednesday and I’m confident they will play well.”
Let’s take a look at Arsenal’s playing XI for the clash.
In goal, Arsenal’s only signing of the summer, Petr Cech will keep his spot because the second-choice goalie David Ospina is still injured.
At the back, Arsenal is certain to see some changes with Frenchman Mathieu Debuchy and English left-back Kieran Gibbs replacing the Spanish duo of Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal. Per Mertesacker has overcome the illness which ruled him out against the Everton, but most likely, Brazilian Gabriel Paulista will keep his place alongside Calum Chambers, who was confirmed of a start by the manager Arsene Wenger.
In the midfield, Mathieu Flamini and Francis Coquelin will start giving Santi Cazorla a much-needed rest. Flamini scored a brace against arch-rivals Tottenham in the previous round of the Capital One Cup and will hope to put a great show against Sheffield as well. Arsene Wenger would consider giving Alexis Sanchez some rest with Costa Rica international Joel Campbell replacing him. Mesut Ozil is likely to play in his number 10 position.
Englishman Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will keep his starting spot his fellow countryman while Theo Walcott is likely to start ahead of Olivier Giroud.
Arsenal likely Playing XI: Cech, Debuchy, Chambers, Paulista, Gibbs, Coquelin, Flamini, Ox, Ozil, Joel Campbell, Walcott.