Sheffield Wednesday v Arsenal preview: Arsene Wenger aiming for first Hillsborough win
Tuesday 27 October 2015 18:54, UK
Arsenal travel to Hillsborough to face Sheffield Wednesday in the fourth round of the Capital One Cup.
Arsenal beat Sheffield Wednesday in the 1993 final after Steve Morrow's double cancelled John Harkes' opener and they will be hoping for a repeat performance to extend their winning run to five games.
Live Capital One Cup Football
However, Hillsborough is a ground that has not been kind to Arsenal on recent visits with the Gunners failing to record a victory in their last six visits, while Arsene Wenger has never tasted victory at the ground during his 19-year tenure at Arsenal.
Wenger will be hoping to put that record right but to do so his side will have to beat a Sheffield Wednesday side who are currently on an unbeaten run of their own, having gone eight games with defeat in all competitions.
Team news
Sheffield Wednesday are missing a handful of first-team regulars for the visit of Arsenal.
Joe Wildsmith will deputise in goal with Keiren Westwood resting an injury, while boss Carlos Carvalhal has also confirmed Michael Turner, Alex Lopez, Marco Matias and Modou Sougou are not fit enough to take part.
Forward Fernando Forestieri is cup-tied and Carvalhal will also monitor knocks to Sam Hutchinson and Glenn Loovens.
Lucas Joao is ready for action, having required dental work following a facial injury against Rotherham.
Meanwhile, Petr Cech will start in goal for Arsenal as David Ospina remains sidelined by a shoulder injury.
The Gunners have no fresh problems following Saturday's defeat of Everton - but defender Per Mertesacker is available again following illness.
Aaron Ramsey (hamstring), Mikel Arteta (ankle), Jack Wilshere (fibula), Danny Welbeck and Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky (both knee) all continue their rehabilitation.
Opta stats
This is the first meeting between Sheffield Wednesday and Arsenal since May 2000, a 3-3 draw at Highbury in the Owls' penultimate Premier League game before relegation.
The two sides have met five times in the League Cup, with the Gunners victorious on all five occasions, including in the 1993 final.
Wednesday haven't lost a home League Cup tie since August 2008 against Rotherham when they were beaten on penalties.
In only two of the previous 25 seasons have Arsenal been eliminated by a non-top tier team (Burnley in 2008-09 and Bradford in 2012-13).
Arsenal have kept just one clean-sheet in their last 11 away League Cup games (4-0 at Newcastle in 2010-11).
Charlie Nicholas' prediction
I think this will be a good footballing game because Sheffield Wednesday, under their new manager Carvalhal, have been going absolutely brilliantly, with another good win at the weekend at Rotherham.
However, what Arsenal have got to pick from is still a very experienced group, with Mathieu Flamini, who scored twice against Spurs, and Arteta in midfield, then Mertesacker to come back. I have a feeling Wenger might rest both Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud so I think Joel Campbell might get the chance to start first.
Momentum means a lot at a club and Arsenal have got that at the moment, so while Arsene might rest quite a few, Arsenal will still to come through this.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 1-3 (11/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Sky Bet Championship side Sheffield Wednesday are 7/1 shots to upset Arsenal (2/5) at Hillsborough with the draw in 90 minutes 4/1. Wednesday are 100/1 outsiders to lift the trophy with Arsenal 5/1 shots. The South Yorkshire outfit have scored in each of their eight home matches this season and can be backed at 9/2 to take the match into extra-time in a scoring draw.
Walcott to score and Arsenal to win is one six Price Boosts, now 15/8 from 6/4, while Wednesday to win is 25/1 (from 22/1). Sky Sports pundits Jamie Redknapp, Phil Thompson and Nicholas are all siding with the Gunners to progress.
