Tottenham v Arsenal: Youngsters hoping for Capital One Cup chance
Wednesday 23 September 2015 09:30, UK
The early rounds of the Capital One Cup often provide first-team opportunities for young players but a north London derby between Tottenham and Arsenal promises to be a feisty affair.
Which players will be hoping to find themselves thrust into the spotlight? We take a look at some of the candidates…
Live Capital One Cup Football
TOTTENHAM
Tom Carroll
At 23, Tom Carroll is no novice but he's still looking to establish himself at White Hart Lane and can expect to feature having played the full 90 minutes in Tottenham's 3-1 Europa League victory over Qarabag on Thursday. Part of Gareth Southgate's England Under-21 squad at the European Championship in the summer, the midfielder is a reliable distributor of the ball but needs regular games to progress.
Josh Onomah
Part of England's European Under-17 Championship winners in 2014, Josh Onomah signed a four-year deal in the summer to ward off interest from Chelsea and Manchester City. The 18-year-old midfielder even has his own chant - based on a Muppets song - after appearing in an FA Cup win over Burnley last season. A first start can't be too far away.
Harry Winks
Having come on as a substitute in last week's win over Qarabag, Harry Winks finds himself on the brink of the Tottenham first-team. The 19-year-old is a tidy midfielder who always wants to get on the ball but he's been restricted to just a handful of minutes with the seniors thus far. Winks can expect more in the cup competitions this autumn.
ARSENAL
Alex Iwobi
Alex Iwobi bolstered his reputation significantly with an impressive showing at the Emirates Cup this summer, even scoring a goal in a 3-0 win over Lyon. The 19-year-old was an unused substitute as Arsenal beat Chelsea in the Community Shield last month but awaits his competitive debut. A north London derby would be a dramatic way to make his bow.
Jeff Reine-Adelaide
While Iwobi got the goal, the real breakthrough star of the Emirates Cup was Jeff Reine-Adelaide - the 17-year-old winning over the crowd with one stunning drag-back. Arsene Wenger has stated that the youngster will not be loaned out due to his tender years but an injury playing for the Under-21s against Newcastle last week looks likely to rob him of a chance at White Hart Lane.
Krystian Bielik
Wenger might not have signed a senior outfield player in the summer but Krystian Bielik did arrive from Legia Warsaw in January with a promising reputation. The Arsenal boss watched his debut for the Under-18s and Bielik continues to develop - featuring in the UEFA Youth League last week against Dinamo Zagreb. Still just 17, the first-team seems likely to be only a matter of time.
