Arteta to test solution to Arsenal problem in Carabao Cup clash
Mikel Arteta is set to handed the opportunity to test a solution to Arsenal ’s increasing problem of scoring goals when they face off in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.
League One side AFC Wimbledon visit the Emirates Stadium for the third round of the competition in midweek, with Arteta set to make changes to his starting line-up.
The Spaniard has got the Gunners’ season back on track in recent weeks, securing back-to-back wins over Norwich City and Burnley to finally get on the board in the Premier League.
The Carabao Cup is one of only two realistic opportunities for the Gunners to win silverware this term, with Arteta’s men having little to no chance of lifting the league title.
Despite its importance to Arteta’s hopes of adding a second trophy to his cabinet since taking over, the Arsenal boss should instead look to experiment.
read also:David Beckham told me to ‘be harder on Romeo than anyone else’ – Neville
The main focus of this experiment should be finding a solution to the Gunners’ struggles to score goals in the league.
In losing their opening three league games of the season, Arteta’s side also failed to score a single goal in those matches.
In fact, their only goals of the season before the international break came in the same competition they will play in on Wednesday.
The Gunners hammered Championship side West Bromwich Albion 6-0 in the second round, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scoring a hat-trick.
Arteta has retooled his side after the international break and they do appear to have found a way to win.
But rather than the slick football that many expected him to bring in when he was appointed, the wins over Norwich and Burnley were not secured in that way.
The Canaries and the Clarets are arguably the two sides who are tipped the most to be relegated this term.