Comments on Preston - Arsenal match in Carabao Cup

Overview

Preston have been in poor form recently. They have only 14 points after 12 matches in the Championship, temporarily ranking 16th in the rankings. Notably, Preston drew in both of their last 2 matches.

Preston certainly cannot compete for promotion, and if they do not improve their form, they could fall into the danger zone and be relegated.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have not been doing well recently. In the Premier League, The Gunners have only earned 1 point after the last 2 rounds. In particular, the 2-2 draw against Liverpool left the Gunners with many worries as their injury list included Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber.

With these new injuries, Arsenal are missing most of their most important defenders. However, Preston is not a strong opponent so Arsenal will be able to give their key players a chance to rest.

Mikel Arteta will certainly not use his strongest team for the trip to Preston in the Carabao Cup. However, the Gunners' young players and reserves are still highly rated. And this will be the basis for them to book their name in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup this season.

Arsenal and Preston have not met often in recent years. The two sides have only met three times in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup since 1999, with Arsenal winning each of those games.

The Carabao Cup may not be Arsenal's priority this season, but their superiority will be on display against second-tier Preston.

Human resources situation

Preston boss Heckingbottom is likely to make some changes to his line-up against Arsenal, with suspended Milutin Osmajic the only notable absentee for the hosts.

On the other side of the front line, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly can be trusted by Mikel Arteta to start against Preston.

Expected lineup:

Preston: Woodman, Kesler-Hayden, Storey, Lindsay, Hughes, Whiteman, McCann, Holmes, Greenwood, Brady, Riis.

Arsenal: Porter, White, Heaven, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Merino, Jorginho, Zinchenko, Nwaneri, Sterling, Jesus.