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[Image] 17-year-old wonderkid makes debut: My Arsenal line-up vs AFC Wimbledon

By mac14 on September 21, 2021

AFC Wimbledon come to the Emirates on Wednesday night to take on Arsenal in the third round of the Carabao Cup. This is the line-up I’d like to see Mikel Arteta select for the match…

Aaron Ramsdale looks like he’s now Arsenal’s No.1 after putting in a couple of impressive performances recently so he should be rested for the North London Derby with Bernd Leno recalled.

Our back four has looked much more solid during the wins over Norwich and Burnley so it looks like Arteta has finally got a defence he can rely upon. I hope we see Takehiro Tomiyasu, Gabriel, Ben White and Kieran Tierney all rested tomorrow.

Nuno Tavares should get another run out at left-back while I’d go with Rob Holding alongside Pablo Mari in the middle of the Arsenal defence. It will be interesting to see who Arteta goes with at right-back and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Calum Chambers featuring but I’d go with Cedric Soares.

Granit Xhaka serves the final game of his three-match ban so he’s not available. Mo Elneny is close to recovering from a thigh injury but the Wimbledon game is likely to come too soon.

Obviously Thomas Partey should be rested ahead of the Tottenham game so I’d go with Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Albert Sambi Lokonga in the middle of the park tomorrow night.

Patino debut

I think Arsenal should rest both Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe so this could be an opportunity to breed one of the most exciting young talents at the club. Charlie Patino has been starring for the U23’s recently and it’s sparked speculation the wonderkid could be given a chance in the first team soon. I think this is a terrific opportunity to have a look at the 17-year-old so I hope we see him given his debut against Wimbledon. Patino looks like he’s a star in the making so hopefully he gets some minutes.

Nicolas Pepe, Bukayo Saka and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang should all be given a breather ahead of Tottenham so it will be all change in the Arsenal attack. This is a great chance for Gabriel Martinelli to put in a performance as it’s been a disappointing start to the season for the Brazilian.

Alexandre Lacazette should also get a start up top while I hope Arteta gives Folarin Balogun a chance. Out wide isn’t his best position and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s Eddie Nketiah who’s given the nod, but I’d like to see Balogun handed a start.

This would be my Arsenal line-up: