Having brushed aside Bournemouth in the Premier League over the weekend, Arsenal’s focus is now on the EFL Cup quarter-final match against Southampton tonight at the Emirates.
Arsene Wenger’s men haven beaten Championship opposition to get to the quarter-final stage of the EFL Cup so far, having demolished Nottingham Forest 4-0 away from home in the third round and beating Reading 2-0 in the fourth just over a month ago.
But now the Gunners face Southampton, who defeated Crystal Palace and Sunderland to get into their current position in the competition.
Wenger has always gone with a less experienced side and youth in this specific competition, but Arsenal fans will be hoping that the Frenchman doesn’t underestimate the Saints tonight.
A win for Arsenal would see them progress into the semi-finals, where, so far, Liverpool and Hull await.
Southampton have been in decent form as of late and Claude Puel will believe this is a competition he can go on and win for the Hampshire club, if he masterminds a victory of Wenger.
Arsenal’s next game is a Premier League away trip to West Ham on Saturday, and Wenger will certainly consider dropping some regulars for tonight’s game.
So here is the starting XI I believe Wenger should go with: