Quantcast
Home   >   Match   >   Preview: Arsenal vs Doncaster, squad news, teenager to start + prediction

Preview: Arsenal vs Doncaster, squad news, teenager to start + prediction

By on September 20, 2017

Reiss Nelson Arsenal

Arsenal entertain Doncaster Rovers at the Emirates Stadium in the third round of the League Cup this evening.

We endured a shocking start to the new season and it looked like it would be another long campaign following defeats at Stoke and Liverpool last month.

However, back-to-back wins over Bournemouth and Cologne followed by Sunday’s impressive 0-0 draw at Chelsea have given us a new sense of optimism ahead of a run of very winnable games.

First up is our League Cup third round clash with Doncaster and while this competition isn’t a priority, it still poses a realistic chance for silverware and provides an opportunity for some of the fringe/youth players.

Team News

Wenger is expected to make wholesale changes to his side with Wilshere and Chambers set to make their first starts for Arsenal in over a year.

Welbeck has been ruled out for around a month with a groin injury while Ozil won’t be risked due to a minor knee problem so they are on the treatment table along with Coquelin and Cazorla.

Ospina, Holding, Mertesacker, Elneny, Walcott and Giroud are all expected to start while youngsters Maitland-Niles and Nelson could be given their opportunities to impress.

The likes of Cech, Koscielny, Monreal, Bellerin, Kolasinac, Ramsey and Xhaka will all be rested ahead of Monday’s league clash with West Brom.

Preferred line-up

It will be great to see how Chambers does in a back three alongside Holding and Mertesacker while I’m excited to see Wilshere start his first game of the season.

However, the man everyone wants to see is Nelson as he’s been hugely impressive for the U23s this season so hopefully he’s handed his full debut.

Sanchez didn’t start at Chelsea so Wenger may decide to include him in the line-up tonight to help him rediscover his full match fitness.

This would be my side:

Prediction

Some of you may remember the last time we faced Doncaster in this competition back in 2005 when we needed a last minute equaliser from Gilberto to salvage a 2-2 draw and eventually won on penalties to reach the semi-finals. I’m not expecting that sort of drama tonight as we should have more than enough to beat the League One outfit, despite fielding a weakened side. I’m going for 3-1. Arsenal 3-1 Doncaster