Published: September 22, 2021 7:37 pm
Last Updated: September 23, 2021 2:42 pm
Arsenal host Wimbledon in Carabao Cup 3rd round
Following their 6-0 demolition of West Brom in the second round of the Carabao Cup, Arsenal play host to League 1 outfit AFC Wimbledon this evening. The Gunners are looking to build momentum after back-to-back 1-0 wins kick-started their season, following an international break spent at the foot of the Premier League.
There was a great deal of hope that the weaker opposition and nature of the competition, traditionally one in which youth is fielded, would see Mikel Arteta offer game time to some of the more impressive members of Arsenal’s U-23 side, such as Charlie Patino.
However, as was the case against the Baggies, the Spaniard opted for a strong starting XI, which includes Bernd Leno, Rob Holding, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Alexandre Lacazette. While all could be classed as backup players, none offer the excitement of youth that the Arsenal faithful were craving. Nevertheless, should they get the job done, there will be no room for complaint.
🎺 @LacazetteAlex captains the side
💫 @g_martinelli01, @EddieNketiah9 return
🧤 @Bernd_Leno starts in goalOur team news for tonight’s #CarabaoCup match against @AFCWimbledon 👇
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 22, 2021
Why Thomas Partey started
One of the more surprising players named to begin proceedings this evening, however, was Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey. So crucial to the Gunners, and with the North London derby just four days away (a game which he limped out of last season), fans were understandably left confused as to why Partey was risked for this evening’s tie.
However, Football.London journalist Chris Wheatley shed some light on the situation, revealing:
“Thomas Partey asked to play tonight as he looks to fine tune his match fitness ahead of Sunday’s north London derby.”
I’m told Thomas Partey asked to play tonight as he looks to fine tune his match fitness ahead of Sunday’s north London derby. #AFC
— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley_) September 22, 2021
Should the midfielder come through unscathed, it would be a massive bonus for him to have further game-time under his belt. Should Partey pick up an injury, however, more than a few Arsenal fans will begin pointing fingers.
Read more:
Pep Guardiola pleads for Manchester City fans to attend games following Leipzig demolition
Aaron Ramsdale now Arsenal’s no.1 as Gunners look to cash in on Bernd Leno in January
This article was edited by
Conor Laird.
Arsenal betting odds, next game:
Arsenal vs Tottenham odds: result, both teams to score, correct score & goalscorers
Arsenal’s latest videos
HIGHLIGHTS | Arsenal vs AFC Wimbledon (3-0) | Lacazette, Smith Rowe, Nketiah
We booked our place in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a…
2021-09-23T00:00:12Z
HIGHLIGHTS | Chelsea vs Arsenal (1-6) | U23 | Biereth (3), Balogun (2), Salah Oulad M’Hand
We claimed our third win on the bounce in the Premier League 2 with…
2021-09-22T10:50:20Z
Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Chelsea FC | 5 | 11 | 13 |
| 2 | Liverpool FC | 5 | 11 | 13 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 5 | 9 | 13 |
| 4 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 5 | 3 | 12 |
| 5 | Manchester City | 5 | 10 | 10 |
| 6 | Everton FC | 5 | 3 | 10 |
| 7 | Tottenham Hotspur | 5 | -3 | 9 |
| 8 | West Ham United | 5 | 4 | 8 |
| 9 | Brentford FC | 5 | 3 | 8 |
| 10 | Aston Villa | 5 | 1 | 7 |
| 11 | Watford FC | 5 | -2 | 6 |
| 12 | Leicester City | 5 | -3 | 6 |
| 13 | Arsenal FC | 5 | -7 | 6 |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 5 | -3 | 5 |
| 15 | Southampton FC | 5 | -2 | 4 |
| 16 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 5 | -3 | 3 |
| 17 | Leeds United | 5 | -7 | 3 |
| 18 | Newcastle United | 5 | -7 | 2 |
| 19 | Burnley FC | 5 | -6 | 1 |
| 20 | Norwich City | 5 | -12 | 0 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 4 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 4 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 4 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 3 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 3 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 3 |
| Lukaku, Romelu | Chelsea FC | 3 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 3 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 3 |
| Gray, Demarai | Everton FC | 3 |
| Calvert-Lewin, Dominic | Everton FC | 3 |
| Sarr, Ismaila | Watford FC | 3 |
| Greenwood, Mason | Manchester United | 3 |
| Ings, Danny | Aston Villa | 2 |
| Saint-Maximin, Allan | Newcastle United | 2 |
| Toney, Ivan | Brentford FC | 2 |
| Fornals, Pablo | West Ham United | 2 |
| Torres, Ferran | Manchester City | 2 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 2 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 2 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 0 | 3 |
| Cooper, Liam | Leeds United | 0 | 3 |
| Etebo, Oghenekaro | Watford FC | 0 | 3 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 0 | 2 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 0 | 2 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 0 | 2 |
| Richarlison | Everton FC | 0 | 2 |
| Duffy, Shane | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 2 |
| Norgaard, Christian | Brentford FC | 0 | 2 |
| Mings, Tyrone | Aston Villa | 0 | 2 |
| Rodri | Manchester City | 0 | 2 |
| Rice, Declan | West Ham United | 0 | 2 |
| Struijk, Pascal | Leeds United | 1 | 1 |
| Tanganga, Japhet | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 1 |
| Barnes, Ashley | Burnley FC | 0 | 2 |
| Ward, Joel | Crystal Palace | 0 | 2 |
| Moreno, Rodrigo | Leeds United | 0 | 2 |
| Schar, Fabian | Newcastle United | 0 | 2 |
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 2 |
| Stephens, Jack | Southampton FC | 0 | 2 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 7 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 3 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 3 |
| Kovacic, Mateo | Chelsea FC | 3 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 3 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 2 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 2 |
| Ings, Danny | Aston Villa | 2 |
| Saint-Maximin, Allan | Newcastle United | 2 |
| Townsend, Andros | Everton FC | 2 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 2 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 2 |
| Gross, Pascal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2 |
| Pereira, Ricardo | Leicester City | 2 |
| Alexander-Arnold, Trent | Liverpool FC | 2 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 1 |
| Toney, Ivan | Brentford FC | 1 |
| Fornals, Pablo | West Ham United | 1 |
| Torres, Ferran | Manchester City | 1 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 1 |
