Mikel Arteta will make changes for Arsenal's Carabao Cup third-round clash with League One Bolton Wanderers. The question is how many of them will be enforced.
The Gunners battled to a 2-2 draw in a titanic Premier League clash with Manchester City on Sunday, playing 45 minutes with 10 men after Leandro Trossard's red card before suffering the heartbreak of conceding an equaliser to John Stones in the eighth minute of stoppage time.
Stones joined team-mates Bernardo Silva and Manuel Akanji in accusing Arsenal of exercising "dark arts" tactics in terms of slowing the game down and feigning injury.
“I always prefer the facts to words or supposing things,” Arteta told a pre-match news conference on Tuesday. “Let’s see who is available tomorrow and then we can talk about dark arts or these things or if it’s a reality.
“Unfortunately, yes there will be a few players not available. Tomorrow you will find out. As soon as I give the lineup. We will use the facts. If a player is faking something that means he will carry on and be involved in the squad and play.”
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Arsenal vs. Bolton lineups, expected starting 11, confirmed team newsDavid Raya produced a superb performance against Manchester City despite appearing to suffer with cramps and leaving the Etihad Stadium with a bandage on his knee. The Spain goalkeeper is sidelined tonight, No. 2 Neto is cup-tied and teenager Tommy Setford has suffered a hip injury.
The upshot is 16-year-old Jack Porter will play in goal and become the youngest ever player in an Arsenal starting XI in the process.
Gabriel Martinelli, Jurrien Timber and goalscorer Riccardo Calafiori all came off amid Arsenal's colossal defensive effort during the second half at the weekend. Calafiori starts, Martinelli is among the substitutes but Timber is not involved against Bolton
Myles Lewis-Skelly came off the bench for his Premier League debut against City and is in from the start tonight.
Arsenal (4-3-3, right to left): Porter (GK) — Nichols, Kiwior, Calafiori Lewis-Skelly — Nwaneri, Jorginho, Rice — Saka, Jesus, Sterling
Injured: Tierney, Odegaard, Merino, Zinchenko, Tomiyasu, Setford, Raya, White, Timber
Suspended: Trossard
Cup-tied: Neto
Bolton claimed a much-needed 5-2 victory over Reading at the weekend, with Dion Charles hitting a hat-trick before halftime. That was only a second win in six League One matches for Ian Evatt's side this season.
Charles is resting up on the bench tonight while ex-Arsenal youngster Jordi Osei-Tutu will unfortunately miss out on a reunion with his former club due to a knee injury.
Bolton predicted XI (3-5-2, right to left): Southwood (GK) — Forino , Santos Toal — Dacres-Cogley, Sheehan, Arfield, Dempsey, Williams — McAtee, Collins
Injured: Osei-Tutu, Gomes, Lolos, Jones, Forrester
Suspended: None
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Arsenal vs. Bolton live stream, TV channelHere's how to watch this Carabao Cup third-round match across selected areas of the world's major regions:
RegionTVStreamingUSA—Paramount+Canada—DAZNUKSky Sports+ Sky GO, Sky Sports websiteAustraliabeIN Sports 1beIN Sports ConnectIndia—FanCode
