Sheffield Wednesday vs Arsenal: Preview, TV channel info, Team News, Prediction, Betting odds

Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal travel to Sheffield Wednesday for the Capital One Cup

Arsenal go into this game in the best form they have shown so far this season. After three wins in eight days giving Arsene Wenger the ‘perfect week’ for the Gunners, they now shift their focus back to the Capital One Cup Round of 16 as they travel to Sheffield Wednesday. The Championship club are currently ninth in the table after 13 games while the Gunners occupy second place in the Premier League table with Manchester City top only on goal difference.

Kickoff and Telecast

Date & Time: Tuesday, 27 October 2015 – 19:45 (Wednesday – 1:15 AM IST)

Venue: Hillsborough Stadium

Telecast: Ten Sports and Ten HD

Team News

Sheffield Wednesday’s Portuguese coach Carlos Carvalhal has a tough job on his hands with many first team players sidelined with injuries. Alex Lopez, Michael Tuner, Modou Sougou and Marco Matias will not be available for selection while their hopes will be pinned on forwards Fernando Forestieri and Lucas Joao while Carvalhal confirmed goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith would start the game.

The League Cup has always seen Arsene Wenger give the younger crop a chance to shine to ensure the club remain competitive on the other fronts. Key senior players, who have played three games on the trot in a week, will be given a rest ahead of a crucial fixture against Swansea as the bench strength comes into play.

Matt Macey could start for Arsenal in goal

Petr Cech might be rested while David Ospina is still injured. This means 21-year-old Matthew Macey may get a start in goal. Mathieu Debuchy and Kieran Gibbs are likely to start with Calum Chambers and Gabriel Paulista in defence.

With players such as Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey, Tomas Rosicky and Jack Wilshere still out injured, teenage midfielder Krystian Bielik might get a start after playing for the Arsenal U19 team in the UEFA Youth League against Bayern Munich. Alex Iwobi and Joel Campbell may also get a rare start in attack. Mathieu Flamini will also get a chance to repeat his heroics in the previous round at White Hart Lane while Walcott would also get a start up front.

Probable Lineups

Sheffield Wednesday: Wildsmith, Hunt, Loovens, Lees, Pudil, Hutchinson, Wallace, Lee, Bannan, Forestieri, Joao

Arsenal: Macey, Debuchy, Chambers, Gabriel, Gibbs, Flamini, Bielik, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Iwobi, Campbell, Walcott

Sheffield Wednesday vs Arsenal - Probable XIs

Form

Sheffield Wednesday come into this match in decent form. They have not lost any of their last 8 games in all competitions, even claiming Newcastle United as victims in the previous round. In their last eight games, they have won five and drawn three – scoring 12 goals and conceding only six.

Last 5 games: W-D-D-W-W (Last match: Rotherham 1-2 Sheffield Wednesday)

Arsenal come into this game with 4 wins in all competitions – three of which were in the league. They beat Manchester United, Watford and Everton while also beating Bayern Munich 2-0 to keep their Champions League hopes alive.

Last 5 games: L-W-W-W-W (Last match: Arsenal 2-1 Everton)

Key Stats

• Arsenal have scored 17 goals in the last six matches in the EPL
• So far this season, Arsenal have taken 197 shots on goal – the highest in the EPL
• Arsenal have also created a league-high 157 chances. The next best is 13

Prediction

With the current form of Wenger’s side and the injury-hit Wednesday side, Carlos Carvalhal himself gave his side a “10% chance” against the rampant Gunners. Arsenal don’t have fond memories of Hillsborough, failing to win on their last six trips. But that was more than two decades ago and Wenger will be keen to set the record straight.

Predicted score: Sheffield Wednesday 1-3 Arsenal

Betting Odds (bet365)

Sheffield Wednesday – 7/1

Draw – 17/4

Arsenal – 2/5