Arsenal begin their Carabao Cup campaign this evening when they travel to Portman Road to face Ipswich Town in the third round.
Kick-off is at 8pm UK time, with Mikel Arteta’s side looking to continue an excellent start to the season and register a seventh consecutive victory in all competitions.
The Tractor Boys booked their place in this round by overcoming League One side Leicester City and will now face Arsenal in this competition for the first time since 2011, when the Gunners knocked Ipswich out over two legs in the semi-finals.
Arsenal Looking To Go One Better
There should be plenty of motivation for Arsenal in this competition after reaching last season’s final.
Unfortunately, that trip to Wembley ended in disappointment as the Gunners lost 2-0 to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final.
Now the journey starts again.
Arteta will undoubtedly make changes given the demands of the schedule, but Arsenal arrive at Portman Road having won their opening six matches of the campaign and will want to maintain that momentum.
Ipswich, meanwhile, have made an encouraging return to the Premier League.
After winning promotion in 2024, they suffered immediate relegation before bouncing straight back by finishing second last season.
There have already been signs that things could be different this time around.
A dramatic late home winner against Sunderland was followed by an entertaining 3-2 victory over 10-man Crystal Palace at the weekend.
Ipswich managed only four league victories during their previous Premier League campaign, but already have two from their opening four matches this season.
Team News
Jurrien Timber returned to action during the second half of Saturday’s 2-0 win over Sunderland, making his first appearance since the Champions League final in May.
He replaced Ben White, who was forced off at half-time with an injury.
Cristhian Mosquera and William Saliba both missed the Sunderland victory as they continue their recoveries from respective injuries.
For Ipswich, summer signing Emersonn came off during the 3-2 victory over Crystal Palace with a quad issue, although manager Gary O’Neil indicated that the Brazilian striker was likely to have been rested for this match regardless.
Jack Taylor is sidelined with a knee problem, while Azor Matusiwa has a thigh issue but could still be available.
Zian Flemming is eligible despite having featured for Burnley earlier in the competition following a change to EFL rules.
What The Managers Say
In his Ipswich Presser, Arteta suggested there will be no shortage of players putting themselves forward for selection:
“We’ll look at the players’ eyes and they will say they want to play, and ‘I want to win a game, and I want to improve.’
“They will review the [Sunderland] game, and they will be willing for more because I know the boys.”
O’Neil is also expecting changes from both managers but insists Ipswich will approach the tie looking to progress, saying: “We’re going to give it our best go at home under the lights.”
Arsenal Must Respect The Threat
This looks like exactly the type of cup tie Arsenal cannot afford to approach casually.
Arteta is likely to use his squad, but Ipswich have already demonstrated that they can make Portman Road a difficult place for Premier League opposition.
For Arsenal, though, this is another opportunity to keep the winning run going while giving valuable minutes to players who may not have started regularly.
After going all the way to Wembley last season only to fall at the final hurdle, another serious Carabao Cup challenge begins tonight.
Prediction: Ipswich Town 1-3 Arsenal
What do you think, Gooners? How many changes should Arteta make tonight, and are you expecting Arsenal to safely book their place in the fourth round? Let us know in the comments.
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Looking forward to it
I hope we rest a few players but play a team strong enough to win
Play players like Gyokeres, Merino, Zubimendi, Eze, Dowman as well as a few regular starters.
I want us to win the Carabao Cup this season
COYG
i had to laugh at you predicting ipswich to score lol
Arsenal always approach this competition “Casually” which is why we never win it, and I’m fine with that. Good opportunity for youngsters, those returning from injury, and those who struggle to get off-the-bench in the other competitions. I’ll only start worrying about the league cup if (a) We’re on for a quadruple, or (b) If we don’t win anything else for a long time. WTF is “Carabao” anyway?
Arteta is acting like the top dog in the premier league and why shouldn’t he., he must now get some form of clarification
The fact Howard Webb didn’t come out on Skysport and rectify his transgressions, tells he’s as stubborn as a mule and helll bent on making the premier league officiating the laughing stock of football
The Spaniard must now start Dowman, Merino, Eze Gyokers in this one
—-‘——————Kepa
—Soloman–Konza—Hincapié–Skelly
—–Zubimendi– Dowman–Merino
——Manduake–Gyokers—Eze
If Mosquera fit put him in & rest Konsa. Zubi. MLS. Merino.
Madueke. Gyok. Eze.
Lets do it…COYGs
It was 33 years since Arsenal won this cup. Given the squad depth and fine bill of health it’s now time to win it.
Last season the run was against Port Vale, Brighton, Palace, Chelsea and City at the final. Today’s ref played us in last season’s final so we shouldn’t lose back to back under his watch.
Hope Kepa will be better than his previous outings.
Ipswich 1-2 Arsenal.
Lots of changes expected tonight, won’t be easy with a vastly changed team, but expecting a win for us🤞
And there in lye’s the problem regarding rotation. Arteta says that he will look in the player’s eyes and they will tell him they want to win.
And that he knows the boys. Of course their going to want to play, what player doesn’t. But this is where Arteta needs to protect the player from themselves.
Hopefully he will use the squad wisely. After all, isn’t this why we’ve got such a squad now for this very reason.
I for one hope that Declan Rice is nowhere near this game tonight. If he is, then Arteta is clearly not learning his lessons regards rotation.