Arsenal Predicted XI vs Leicester City: Mikel Arteta set to make big changes for League Cup tie

23rd September 2020

Categories: Arsenal, Features, Premier League, Premier League Clubs

Tags: Arsenal, Bukayo Saka, Carabao Cup, Cedric Soares, David Luiz, Eddie Nketiah, Joe Willock, League Cup, Leicester City, Mikel Arteta, Mohamed Elneny, Nicolas Pepe, Premier League, Reiss Nelson, Runar Alex Runarsson, Sead Kolasinac, William Saliba

Arsenal travel to the King Power Stadium to take on Leicester City in their Carabao Cup third round tie on Wednesday.

The Gunners head into the match after winning their opening two Premier League matches against Fulham and West Ham respectively.

Now Mikel Arteta gets to take on the challenge of the League Cup for the first time as a manager.

Arsenal have only won the competition twice, with their last victory coming in 1993, while their hosts have lifted the trophy on three occasions, most recently in 2000.

With a big squad at his disposal and Liverpool to come on Monday in the league, Arteta is expected to shuffle his pack.

So which players will be tasked with the challenge of getting into the hat for the fourth round? Here we predict the North London side’s starting XI…

GOALKEEPER

Having signed for Arsenal just on Monday, Icelandic goalkeeper Runar Alex Runarsson looks set to be handed his debut. The 25-year-old was brought in from Dijon to provide competition to Bernd Leno following Emiliano Martinez’s move to Aston Villa.

DEFENDERS

The Gunners played a back with three centre-backs against West Ham but could revert to a flat back-four against the Foxes. William Saliba, signed last summer from St Etienne, is expected to make his debut alongside the experienced David Luiz at the heart of the backline. Meanwhile, Cedric Soares and Sead Kolasinac should operate in the full-back positions.

MIDFIELDERS

Young star Bukuyo Saka could keep his place in the midfield despite starting against the Hammers. However, there should be changes elsewhere with Granit Xhaka and Dani Ceballos dropping out to give Mohamed Elneny, who impressed in the win at Fulham, and Joe Willock more game time.

FORWARDS

Record signing Nicolas Pepe has shown glimpses of what he can do but has yet to do it on a consistent basis since signing from Lille last summer. The Ivory Coast international will be handed an opportunity to impress in attack on Wednesday alongside academy graduates Eddie Nketiah, who scored the late winner against West Ham, and Reiss Nelson.

Arsenal Predicted XI vs Leicester: Runarsson; Saliba, Luiz, Kolasinac, Cedric; Elneny, Willock, Saka; Pepe, Nelson, Nketiah.