Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has overhauled his starting lineup, making nine changes for the club’s Carabao Cup fourth-round fixture against Fleetwood Town at Highbury Stadium. The tactical shift includes senior debuts for summer signing Illan Meslier and 18-year-old Northern Ireland international Ceadach O’Neill.
Meslier takes his place in goal, anchoring a defensive line that features Jurrien Timber at right-back alongside teenager Marli Salmon, Cristhian Mosquera, and Piero Hincapie. In midfield, Martin Zubimendi earns a start alongside Myles Lewis-Skelly following his substitute appearance against Everton.
Further forward, O’Neill occupies the wing opposite fellow teenager Max Dowman, who enters the match after earning player of the round honors last month for a standout performance against Ipswich Town. Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres complete the starting attacking lineup as the team pursues a spot in the competition’s last eight for the third consecutive year.
The complete Arsenal starting XI comprises Meslier, Timber, Salmon, Mosquera, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman, O’Neill, Havertz, and Gyokeres. Available on the substitutes’ bench for Arsenal are Arrizabalaga, White, Odegaard, Eze, Konsa, Guimaraes, Harriman-Annous, Washington, and Hashi.
Hosts Fleetwood Town counter with a starting lineup featuring Lynch in goal, supported by defenders Rooney, Bennett, and Potter. The midfield and attacking options include Haughey, McLean, Neal, Helm, and Batty, alongside the forward pairing of Loupalo-Bi and Evans. Fleetwood’s substitutes list includes Pradic, Andrew, Cannon, Davies, Thomas, Murphy, Coughlan, Roberton, and Cirino.
