Arsenal face Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium tonight in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.
The Gunners’ title dreams ended on Saturday night with a controversial 1-1 draw away at Brighton. Mikel Arteta will be desperate to get a good result in the first leg at home as he believes the League Cup is their best chance of winning silver.
Arteta has made a few changes to his starting XI from the game against Brighton at the weekend, but David Raya is one of the players to keep his place as the Spain international starts between the sticks again for Arsenal.
Julian Timber missed the trip to the Amex Stadium due to suspension, but will return tonight at right-back. William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães continue to link up in the center of Arsenal’s back four, with Miles Lewis-Skelly replacing Ricardo Calafioli at left-back.
Bukayo Saka remains sidelined, while Ethan Nwaneri is also sidelined after picking up a muscular injury over the weekend. However, there is some positive news for Arsenal as Kai Havertz returns from illness after missing the last two games. The German will start up front for the Gunners tonight, with Gabriel Jesus dropping to the bench.
Raheem Sterling has also returned to the squad after recovering from injury, making the experienced winger an option off the bench. Gabriel Martinelli has been recalled to start at right-back, while Leandro Trossard will start at left-back.
Thomas Partey joins Declan Rice in midfield, while Martin Odegaard is fit to return to the starting eleven after overcoming the illness that has hampered him in the last two games.
As for Newcastle, Alexander Isaac is the clear danger up front, with Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy supporting him. Joe Willock will start in midfield alongside Sandro Tonali and Joelinton against his old club.
The confirmed lineup is as follows.
arsenal
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Louis Skelly. Partey, Rice, and Odegaard. Trossard, Havertz, Martinelli
Subs: Porter, Zinchenko, Tierney, Kiwior, Calafioli, Jorginho, Merino, Sterling, Jesus.
newcastle
Dubravka, Librament, Botman, Byrne, Hall. Tonali, Willock, Joelinton. Murphy, Isaac, Gordon.
Subs: Brachodimos, Trippier, Barnes, Targett, Osla, Almiron, Kelly, Longstaff, Miley.
