Arsenal are not the only Premier League club that was handed a tie against lower league opposition for the next round of the Carabao cup, as there are five teams from the Championship among the 16 sides left in the competition and they have been spread around.
So there will only be three all EPL ties while Man City face Wolves, Leicester face Leeds, Bournemouth face Middlesborough and Crystal Palace go to Bristol City. You have to accept that Arsenal got the best draw, though, because not only will it be played at the Emirates stadium towards the end of October, but our opponents Norwich City are the lowest placed team left in the draw.
After getting League One Doncaster in the last round, also at home, it looks like some luck is going our way, in this particular cup at least. The draw will allow Arsene Wenger to rest key first team players once again and give valuable playing time to some young Gunners and fringe members of the squad while keeping a very good chance of progression.
More possible good news comes with the fact that Chelsea, Man United and Tottenham are three of the sides to get EPL opponents and with their European games they may field weakened sides and drop out, so could this oddly named League Cup have Arsenal’s name on it this season?
Bob.