Max Dowman and Piero Hincapie first starts, major changes - Arsenal line-ups vs Brighton

Arsenal have the joy of a midweek cup clash to distract them from the noise surrounding the Premier League title race. Brighton are their opponents in the fourth round of the League Cup with Mikel Arteta surely delighted to be given a home tie.

There have been plenty of discussions over injuries in the squad and the need to rotate. The Carabao Cup has been an easy competition to allow for changes to the team and despite facing Premier League-level opposition, that can indeed happen here.

With that in mind, football.london’s writers have put their heads together to provide their teams for who they think should be starting for the Gunners in Wednesday’s cup clash.

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Tom Canton

For me, this is all about resting players and giving opportunities to those who have yet to play too many minutes. This means throwing in the likes of Max Dowman, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, who, for academy graduates, have already shown plenty of senior-level talent, even the 15-year-old Dowman.

Mikel Merino can offer Viktor Gyokeres some respite while Christian Norgaard, Piero Hincapie, Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera also come into the team. It is amazing that this group still will be welcoming back Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus in the coming weeks.

Kepa also gets another game here and as their least-used player so far besides the likes of Hincapie, it could be a great chance to again get some important minutes under his belt.

Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Brighton – Kepa; White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Zubimendi, Norgaard, Nwaneri; Dowman, Merino, Trossard

Sam Truelove

The Carabao Cup is a great opportunity for Arsenal to win their first piece of silverware since 2020. With the final scheduled for March 22, it could provide Mikel Arteta's squad the perfect confidence boost ahead of what promises to be a challenging run-in.

Kepa Arrizabalaga is a more than able deputy to David Raya and should be given the nod at the Emirates Stadium, with Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera, Gabriel Magalhaes and Myles Lewis-Skelly making up the back four. Gabriel has been immense this season and I just think his presence both at the back and in attack cannot be ignored at the moment.

My midfield trio would consist of Christian Norgaard, Mikel Merino and Eberechi Eze. Nice blend of quality and those in need of minutes in there.

I would persist with Viktor Gyokeres up top as the striker needs to play his way into form, while Ethan Nwaneri can be given some valuable minutes and the chance to stake a claim to start more often. On the right I would rest Bukayo Saka and let Leandro Trossard operate on the right.

Truelove's Arsenal XI vs Brighton: - Kepa; White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Norgaard, Merino, Eze; Nwaneri, Gyokeres, Trossard