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Confirmed line-ups: Arsenal vs Sunderland

By on December 21, 2021

nicolas pepe arsenal

Arsenal welcome Sunderland to the Emirates tonight in the quarter finals of the Carabao Cup.

Mikel Arteta has made plenty of changes from the side that beat Leeds United at the weekend with Bernd Leno among those recalled. The German replaces Aaron Ramsdale between the sticks this evening.

Takehiro Tomiyasu, Gabriel and Kieran Tierney are all given a breather so Cedric Soares comes in at right-back, Nuno Tavares is recalled at left-back while Rob Holding captains the side in the middle of Arsenal’s defence. Ben White keeps his place and it’s a bit surprising he wasn’t given a rest.

It’s all change in midfield too as Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey are rested. Mo Elneny get rare starts in the middle of the park along with Martin Odegaard. Youngster Charlie Patino is among the Arsenal subs so let’s hope we see him at some point.

Bukayo Saka is given a rest so Nicolas Pepe starts on the right flank for Arsenal this evening. Emile Smith Rowe is recalled along with Eddie Nketiah so Gabriel Martinelli drops to the bench.

Alexandre Lacazette is also named among the subs so Folarin Balogun is given a chance to impress up front. Let’s hope he takes it!

These are the line-ups:

Arsenal

Leno; Cedric, White, Holding (C), Tavares; Elneny, Odegaard; Pepe, Smith Rowe, Balogun; Nketiah.

Subs: Ramsdale, Tierney, Gabriel, Partey, Xhaka, Patino, Saka, Martinelli, Lacazette

Sunderland

Burge, Winchester, Wright, Flanagan, Doyle, Gooch, Embleton, Neil, Pritchard, Broadhead, Stewart

Subs: Patterson, Evans, O’Brien, Cirkin, Xhemajli, Younger, Hume, Dunne, Kimpioka