Marli Salmon, 17, makes his second start for Arsenal. HeâÂÂs not the youngest in the XI, of course. Max Dowman plays for the first time this campaign.
Arsenal make nine changes to the XI that beat Sunderland â and the formationâÂÂs a little bit of a mystery. Jacob Greaves is the only survivor from the Ipswich side that started against Crystal Palace on the weekend. This is pure Carabao.
Ipswich: Walton, Furlong, Kipré, Greaves, Ouattara, Florentino, Núñez, McAteer, Mehmeti, Philogene, Flemming
Subs: Palmer, Davis, OâÂÂShea, Lukic, Walle Egeli, Enciso, Maeda, Clarke, Akpom
Arsenal: Arrizabalaga, Salmon, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Zubimendi, Merino, Guimarães, Madueke, Dowman, Eze, Gyökeres
Subs: Meslier, Konsa, Calafiori, Ibrahim, Julienne, Tzolis, Saka, ÃÂdegaard, Havertz
IâÂÂve just remembered that I was present to watch IpswichâÂÂs League Cup exit last year.
In the last 30 years, Ipswich have faced Arsenal six times in the league and failed to win a single game. The League Cup, though? ThatâÂÂs brought some joy for the Tractor Boys. There was a 2-1 third-round win for the visitors at Highbury in November 2000 (let me know if you remember that one well). A more significant occasion arrived a decade later, when they met in the semi-finals and Tamas Priskin scored the only goal in the first leg at Portman Road. But Arsenal triumphed 3-0 at the Emirates, reaching a final they ended up losing to Birmingham City, Obafemi Martins nabbing the winner at Wembley. Even I wouldâÂÂve scored from there.
ThatâÂÂs been Arsenal main story in this comp for quite some time now â finishing just short. TheyâÂÂve reached four finals this century and lost them all, including defeat this year against Manchester City, Nico OâÂÂReillyâÂÂs brace getting in the way. This is the one domestic trophy Mikel Arteta hasnâÂÂt lifted at Arsenal, a box that still needs ticking, his latest crack at it starting tonight at 8pm BST. Drop me a line and letâÂÂs guzzle some of that sweet, sweet Carabao together (other drinks are available).
