Which youngsters deserve a shot against West Brom in the Carabao Cup?

Gabriel Martinelli playing in Arsenal's 2-0 loss against Brentford last Friday

Which youngsters deserve a shot against West Brom in the Carabao Cup? 

Arsenal’s 2021-22 Premier League campaign began poorly last Friday, with a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Brentford providing a far from the ideal start. 

And things don’t get any easier for the Gunners, with a match next Sunday against Chelsea and then a clash against reigning league champions Manchester City the following weekend.

However, there is also the matter of next Wednesday’s EFL Cup second round fixture against West Brom to contend with.

With less than 72 hours in between that match at The Hawthorns and a 12:30 kickoff at The Etihad the following Saturday, Mikel Arteta will likely rest several key players with a strong league campaign desired by fans and the club. 

Most top-flight clubs targeting European places generally use the EFL Cup as a chance to give younger players experience, and Arteta is unlikely to treat it any differently.

However, that, in turn, leads to questions about which younger players may get an opportunity to impress. 

Gabriel Martinelli

One man many fans will be keen to see is Gabriel Martinelli, who has recently returned to the club after a summer that saw him win Olympic gold with Brazil.

Martinelli only turned 20 last month but has been exciting fans for a while now, having joined the club two years ago.

His time in north London has been disrupted by the knee injury he suffered in June 2020, which ruled him out for six months, but he has at times impressed when playing in the first team since then.

Martinelli did not shine against Brentford on Friday but, in his defence, very few players did. 

A match such as the upcoming clash against West Brom could be perfect for him to slowly get some minutes under his belt, and the same could be said for Folarin Balogun.

Folarin Balogun

Balogun also started on Friday though with Bukayo Saka, Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang set to return to the first-time fold, opportunities for league action may be fleeting. 

However, Arteta clearly has faith in the 20-year-old and there is no doubt that he has great potential. A midweek cup tie could be perfect for helping Balogun gain vital experience.  

Balogun is another young star highly rated by Arsenal fans and has attracted attention elsewhere, so an appearance from him would be more than welcome.

It could also provide a perfect opportunity for someone like Reiss Nelson- assuming he is still at the club by then.

Reiss Nelson

Rumours are still swirling about interest from Crystal Palace or a potential loan deal to another club, but it is also believed that Arsenal are keen for him to sign a new contract.

And, if he is still at the Emirates at that point, it would be interesting to see what effect he could have if Arteta was to give him an opportunity in such a match.  

Elsewhere, it will be interesting to see if either Saka and Emile Smith-Rowe feature at all.

Neither are exactly in the same position as Martinelli, Balogun or Nelson as they are both regular first-team starters, though are comparatively inexperienced at this level compared to some of their teammates. 

Arteta could easily play Saka to get him back up and running after returning to the club later than most due to his involvement in the Euros, whilst Smith-Rowe is someone Arteta seemingly looks to rely on more and more often.

Though line-ups are generally tricky to predict, it should not be a shock if any number of these five players feature. 

Photo Credit: Getty Images

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