After bouncing back strongly since their defeat to Liverpool on the opening day, Arsenal have managed to stay unbeaten ever since and were clinical in their recent victory over Hull last weekend. However, they will now have to turn their attention to the League Cup this weekend when they face Nottingham Forest to fight for a place in the 4th round of the competition.
Wenger has always taken the League Cup seriously and will surely go all out for a victory on the night. Here is Arsenal’s predicted lineup to face Forest on Tuesday:
Team News:
Arsene Wenger has been nursing a few injuries since the start of the season. He will miss the services of Mertesacker, Welbeck, Giroud and Ramsey for this game. Carl Jenkinson’s and Yaya Sanogo are closing in on a return but are still doubtful for this game while the manager will take a late decision on Gabriel’s chance of making an appearance for the club in the Cup game. Here is the Arsenal’s predicted lineup with a number of changes from the previous game:
Goal Keeper:
David Ospina:
After a decent outing against PSG in the Champions League, Ospina should keep his place in the side as a cup-keeper for this game against Forest.
Defense:
Mathieu Debuchy:
A perfect chance for Wenger to give Debuchy his first chance this season as he will be tempted to rest Bellerin for this game.
Gabriel:
Just returning back from injury, Gabriel will have a great chance to be back match to full fitness against a Championship side in Forest in the League Cup.
Rob Holding:
Having lost out on a place in the side to Mustafi, Holding will get his chance to prove himself for the first team on the night against Forest.
Kieron Gibbs:
Decent performances from Monreal has kept Gibbs out of the Arsenal lineup but this League cup will give Wenger a chance to get Gibbs back into the team on Tuesday.
Midfield:
Granit Xhaka:
Having just scored his first goal in Arsenal colors as a sub in the previous game, Xhaka will be expected to start the game for Arsenal against Forest on Tuesday.
Mohamed Elneny:
Will replace Francis Coquelin who has been decent this season. Was impressive in the previous season and will hope to make a claim for his place in the starting XI with a decent performance against Forest.,
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain:
The English winger was decent in his previous outing for the side and will hope to use his pace and strength to get the better of the Forest side on the night.
Alex Iwobi:
Having put in some decent performances recently, Iwobi will be given the role of a play maker for this game as he tries to impress the manager for a place in the starting XI.
Jeff Reine- Adelaide:
The youngster who was only recently promoted into the first team, Adelaide, might be given a run in against Forest this weekend to try and test how far he has come from the academy at Arsenal.
Attack:
Lucas Perez:
Still settling into life in England, Perez, will have a decent chance to claim his first goal in Arsenal colors on Tuesday when he leads the attacking line for Arsenal against Forest on Tuesday.
