Arsenal host Southampton in the League Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday looking to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to 20 games.

The Gunners lost their first match of the season at home to Liverpool, but have since then won 13 and drawn six of their 19 games.

This includes eight Premier League wins, the latest of which a 3-1 success over Bournemouth on Sunday, and three victories in the Champions League which saw them qualify for the last 16 with two matches to spare.

Photo: Mark Leech

Wenger’s men have also beaten Nottingham Forest and Reading en route to the last eight of the League Cup, but face as stiffer challenge in the form of Claude Puel’s Southampton, who have conceded just 12 league goals so far – only Chelsea and Tottenham have conceded fewer.

Nonetheless, Arsenal are in fine form and will feel confident of making the last four in a competition Wenger has yet to win at the club, and he’ll hope that this is the year that he can finally add that to his CV.

With a trip to Crystal Palace coming up in the league on Saturday, the Gunners boss may decide to rest a few first teamers against the Saints, so here are THREE players who deserve an opportunity on Wednesday night…

Rob Holding

Photo: Mark Leech

England Under-21 international was brought to the Emirates from Bolton Wanderers in the summer, but he hasn’t featured much for the Gunners this season.

This may not surprise many but, if that’s the case, why wasn’t he loaned out somewhere to continue his development?

Nonetheless, he did start Arsenal’s first three Premier League games, and wasn’t entirely convincing, and has since then been restricted to two League Cup games against Nottingham Forest and Reading.

Wenger needs to know that, if there’s an injury or suspension to Laurent Koscielny and/or Shkodran Mustafi, Holding is ready to deputise, and more minutes on the pitch against good opposition will give him a good idea about the 21-year-old.

Jeff Reine-Adelaide

A highly-rated and talented midfielder, Jeff Reine-Adelaide has made two appearances for Arsenal this season, and both of them have been in the League Cup.

The 18-year-old started in the comfortable wins over Nottingham Forest and Reading in the previous rounds, and played with composure and maturity which suggests that he’s one for the future.

Reine-Adelaide will be pushing for another starting role against the Saints on Wednesday, as he looks to test himself against fellow Premier League opposition.

Lucas Perez

Photo: Offside / Marca

Striker Lucas Perez was injured in the previous round against Reading, much to the displeasure of Wenger, but he could make a return to action on Wednesday.

And, with Olivier Giroud struggling with a hamstring issue and Wenger unlikely to want to risk Alexis Sanchez, he may call upon Perez to lead the line.

The former Deportivo La Coruna forward hasn’t quite had the impact Gunners fans had hoped when they forked out £17 million on him in the summer, with his return of two goals, both of which in the League Cup, not really what many expected.

However, the excellent form of Sanchez and the likes of Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil have made it difficult for any Arsenal attackers to get into the side, but Wenger needs to know that Perez is ready to perform if called upon.