Arsenal vs Brentford - Unai Emery set to make changes for Carabao Cup tie

Posted Tuesday, September 25, 2018 by PA

Unai Emery is expected to shuffle his pack as Arsenal welcome Brentford to the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night for a third-round Carabao Cup tie.

The Gunners head coach made a string of changes in the Europa League last week before recalling his big hitters for the Premier League win over Everton.

But both Henrikh Mkhitaryan (ankle) and Sokratis Papastathopoulos (leg) could miss out.

Academy product Emile Smith Rowe is in line to make his full debut while other fringe players will be hoping for a chance to impress as Laurent Koscielny (Achilles), Sead Kolasinac (knee), Ainsley Maitland-Niles (leg) and Carl Jenkinson (ankle) remain absent.

Brentford defender Moses Odubajo could make his first appearance for the club.

Odubajo is yet to feature for the Bees since arriving from Hull due to a long-term knee injury, but the full-back was an unused substitute in last weekend’s defeat at Derby.

Boss Dean Smith will assess midfielder Josh Clarke, who is struggling with a hamstring strain, while defender Rico Henry (knee) remains sidelined.

Otherwise Smith will select from a fully-fit squad, with the likes of goalkeeper Luke Daniels, Tom Field, Sergi Canos and Alan Judge all pushing for recalls.