Arsenal begin their Carabao Cup campaign at Portman Road tonight as Mikel Arteta’s side face Ipswich Town in the third round.
The Gunners reached the final of this competition last season before suffering a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Manchester City at Wembley, so tonight represents the beginning of another attempt to go one better.
Arsenal also arrive looking to maintain their excellent start to the new campaign and make it seven consecutive victories in all competitions.
Arsenal Confirmed Team Against Ipswich
As expected for a League Cup tie, there has been plenty of interest in how much Arteta would rotate his starting XI.
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
Introducing your Carabao Cup Gunners starting XI ✨
🤝 @deel
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 15, 2026
There were some fitness questions heading into the game. Jurrien Timber returned during the second half of Arsenal’s victory over Sunderland, while Ben White was forced off at half-time.
Cristhian Mosquera and William Saliba had both missed that trip as they continued their respective recoveries.
Arteta was certainly expecting plenty of enthusiasm from whoever was given the opportunity tonight, saying his players would be looking to win and improve after reviewing the Sunderland performance.
Another Strong Test At Portman Road
Ipswich shouldn’t be underestimated.
Gary O’Neil’s side have won two of their opening four Premier League matches, including a dramatic victory over Sunderland and Saturday’s 3-2 win against Crystal Palace.
With Portman Road under the lights and Ipswich also expected to make changes, this has all the ingredients of a proper cup tie.
Arsenal should still have enough quality in their squad to progress, but Arteta will want whoever gets the opportunity tonight to make it count.
What do you think, Gooners? Are you happy with Arteta’s starting XI, and which Arsenal player are you most interested in watching tonight? Let us know in the comments.
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I like the look of this team and will now pay NOW TV to watch it.
I like that Rice is completely out of today’s squad. He gets some good rest.
This is a very attacking team. I expect 3 – 0
I to am glad that Rice is rested. Sorry not to see Timber though.
zubimendi should play two this night, that is only place i am worried, other department is ok .
Hope Guimaraes and Gabi come out of this one unscratch , I wouldn’t involve them, but a reasonable starting team
Eze left, Noni, right, Dowman 10.
Zooby right back? Really? Maybe Merino in back 4 and Salmon fullback?
Looks good enough to win
Glad Odergaard, Saka, Havertz, Konsa, Tzolis are on the bench in case we need them
COYG!
We got this!
But where is Hincapie?
The back four looks distinctly odd to me?
Excellent finish from Noni!
What an enjoyable game to watch after that Sunderland rough and tumble.
Lovely goal by Max
Hope Gyokers gets a brace out of this one
Nothing beats coming to the party lateand missing 2 goals🙄
Chance for players not getting in the first team to shine and I am afraid Eze, Gyokores, Merino and Zubimendi need to do more second half. And Guimarez trying too many Hollywood passes and are more like Holyhead.
Reggie,
Very good😂, would you like to be the next member to join our comedy club. So far it consists of me, Bruised Banana, and Chris S. You’re more than welcome.
Just to say, Jax turned us down.
Does that mean I have to give up moaning? I like a laugh but you can’t beat a good moan😀
Reggie,
Come on now, of course you can still have a good moan. Have you not read some of my post’s. I to like a good moan, as do we all if we’re honest.
Moaning will not stop you joining our comedy club. 👍😉
He has to get ahead of the competition somehow, lol.
Bruised Banana,
😂👍
The backline is in the treatment room with Hincapie Timber White Mosquera missing this game. I wish Konsa replaces Gabriel in the 2nd half.
Salmon and Dowman are excellent but Eze?
Yes, it’s a fine team performance, but with some awful individual performances in it. Gyokeres and Zubimendi very poor. Neither show any interest in playing for the shirt, won’t go in January, but both gone next summer. Salmon really isn’t up to this level, losing 1.1s too easily. Eze I think has held his role up very well, but Merino looks slow and rusty. And I don’t think Noni’s future lies in the Premiership. He’s one who might be sold in January as Tzolis can play right forward.
Zubimendi poor ? As for Salmon, he’s just turned 17 and very composed for someone of that age.
Arsenal anglicised more evident tonight. The English core
Allow space to Dowman at your own risk. I love watching this kid.
I liked the finish for the second.
Eze frustrates me
Then what is Gyokeres doing to you, as they are knocking the ball to Eze and he’s not losing it. Gyokeres abysmal here.
The stats don’t lie on Gyokeres. His skills levels just not good, worryingly even against Ipswich in carabau.
Ipswich Reserves.
Could we do straight swap with Brentford in January for Igor Thiago? Thiago is strong in exactly what Gyokeres is weak in. We can’t go into second half of season with no number 9 back up for Kai, like where we have left ourselves right now.
As Salmon is too weak in one on ones for Centre back, could his future lie at 6 or in midfield?
I for one would vote to have you on the scout panel MG, your out of the box thinking would be invaluable!
And you are apparently the sensible gooner 🤣
I have just realised it’s Tuesday. I was still partying like it’s weekend. I must have missed the end of the weekend as I was carrying on drinking cocktails.
Salmon will be OK when he’s fully physically developed. But I agree he might be better in a more forward role to suit his on-the-ball skills.
Agree Jax, he just turned 17 y/o. I was skinny back then too if not better looking, lol.
Bruised Banana,
I’d get that mirror checked if I we’re you. 😂😉
I’m afraid to because I only have a rear view mirror. That reminds me of a hilarious Far Side I saw once that showed a side view mirror on a car and a huge monster eyeball shown in the mirror with the line “objects may be closer than they appear” at the bottom.
Everyone saying about Salmon but have you seen his stats from the game, 100% pass completion, 9 defensive contributions and 8 duals won. He wasn’t bullied and didn’t panic, he’s 17 !!
Exactly GB. Iirc he lost one duel, which is rather good for a lad that has just turned 17. He’s so composed for a teenager.
👍HD, hard to believe he just turned 17. He did make a few positioning and judgment errors but he was everywhere and shows no fear while working hard to win everything. Impressive.
BB, he did indeed 👍, but he’s still learning.
One of Kepa’s better games.
Sloppy end.
Sloppy from the seconds 😇
There’s that!
Good win, onto next round. Well done Max🤩 Not well done Eze and Gyokores. They are way way below where they should be. Both gone backwards from last season. And that was quite an achievement by Eze.
Gyokeres knows this is his last season here. Eze’s form goes up and down so much I back him to go on a good run of games at some point in the season. Won’t be getting close to the starting lineup as things are. On the bright side Zubimendi looked positive and determined to play which is what we need from players that are fighting for a spot.
Eze is a bit of an enigma to me. Maybe it’s his nonchalant style that I’m not fond of, it looks lazy, however, he did a sweet flick to Dowman
You remarked recently about Gyokeres being “off”. Any further thoughts Reggie?
I do not know what going on Sue. He just looks way out of sorts. He looks like he is fed up and not interested to me. But maybe he has some other problem, not being shared.
Eze is haunted by his silly pen miss v PSG
Good performance by everyone imo, apart from Gyokeres.
How on earth did the officials not see the foul on MLS for the Ipswich 2nd goal 🙅♂️
HD, the ref must have been laughing too hard, like I was, with MLS on his backside looking around wondering if anyone got the number on that hit and run truck. 😂 Of course, if it hadn’t been Chuba and had the game not still been firmly in hand a different set of emotions would have arisen in me.
So Arsenal face Fleetwood away in the next round
Considering how many all premier league ties there are, you’d have to say that was lucky
Not taking anything for granted and I hope when the match is played that nobody does either
“Not taking anything for granted”
I’m calling it a bye.
The only 2 dangers are travelling to the wrong Highbury, or accidentally passing to the player wearing the Arsenal shirt.
SueP,
Who’d have thought that Arsenal would ever play at Highbury Stadium again. 👍
Yeah MG, the League Two Fleetwood share two common things with Arsenal i.e. their Stadium’s name is Highbury and their kit is similar/identical with Arsenal’s first kit from top to toe.
Yes Arsenal are lucky in the 4th Round draws as 6 fixtures of the 8 pair EPL teams.
Facing the League Two Fleetwood Town in their Highbury Stadium with them donning a lookalike Arsenal kit from top to toe is fascinating