Dowman starts, White returns, Martinelli role change - Arsenal line-ups vs Port Vale

Arsenal travel to Port Vale in the Carabao Cup third round on Wednesday night, with Mikel Arteta expected to give some of his fringe stars much-needed minutes.

After playing Nottingham Forest, Athletic Club and Manchester City over a period of eight days, the Gunners face League One opposition on Wednesday night for a place in the fourth round. Arteta will be all too wary of being knocked out, however, and that will likely influence his team selection.

"Yes, it's a lot of players, obviously, that are going to take part of that, that they fully deserve minutes," the Arsenal boss said when asked how much of an opportunity the Carabao Cup is to give valuable game time to players such as Kepa Arrizabalaga. "Kepa, for sure, is one of them. He's been with us, his attitude, the way he supports every aspect of his role in the best possible manner and others as well. Probably they deserve more minutes as well."

Following the latest injuries suffered by Noni Madueke, Piero Hincapie and Martin Odegaard, Arteta will surely ring the changes. But who should be in his starting XI? football.london's writers have their say, below.

Tom Canton

This is Arsenal's first cup match of the season, and it is a chance for them to rotate some of their players and give others who have been on the fringes an opportunity to play. Kepa Arrizabalaga will finally make his Gunners debut giving David Raya some respite.

While Ben White can return to a back line that has perhaps more experience than was expected at this time. Cristhian Mosquera has been a revelation so far, but with William Saliba back fit, the Spaniard has been moved down the pecking order again.

Piero Hincapie and Christian Norgaard get their first starts with Myles Lewis-Skelly. Declan Rice maintains his spot to keep some senior consistency, while Ethan Nwaneri moves into the number ten slot.

With Noni Madueke suffering a problem and Bukayo Saka still working back from injury, Max Dowman gets his first start of the season after becoming the youngest ever Arsenal under-21s goal-scorer at the weekend. He joins Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli in the forward line.

Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Port Vale – Kepa; White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Norgaard, Rice, Nwaneri; Dowman, Merino, Martinelli

Ryan Taylor

Arsenal are rightly heavy favourites ahead of their trip to the Potteries and Mikel Arteta will be desperate to ensure his side take care of business professionally as continue their four-pronged pursuit of silverware. Manchester United's shock League Cup defeat at Grimsby should serve as a reminder that just about anything can happen if you endure an off day.

That said, the Gunners have more than enough quality within their ranks to ensure they record a straightforward victory because the depth within their squad is excellent.

Perhaps it would be a surprise to see William Saliba start successive games after making his return against Manchester City but last season was living proof Arteta is not scared to throw in the odd big gun early in this competition.

Piero Hincapie would surely have partnered Cristhian Mosquera at the heart of defence if the Ecuadorian international was fit and that effectively forces Arteta's hand because one of Saliba or Gabriel Magalhaes will likely have to play. Surely it will be the former given Gabriel recently partnered Mosquera in the absence of the Frenchman, though don't rule out the involvement of some of Hale End's talented youngsters, either.

Gabriel Martinelli could also be utilised as a centre-forward while the likes of Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman will relish the chance to make an impact ahead of their first senior starts of the season.

Taylor’s Arsenal XI vs Port Vale – Kepa; White, Mosquera, Saliba, Lewis-Skelly; Norgaard, Merino, Nwaneri; Dowman, Martinelli, Eze.

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