5 reasons why the EFL/Carabao Cup is good for English clubs

#4 Opportunity to exercise bench-strength and rotate squads

A younger Aaron Ramsey in action during a League Cup game vs Wigan

The Premier League is the bread and butter of the managers and players. Often, the pressure to succeed is consistently high throughout the season. This prevents managers from actually using the depths of their squad in the league, sticking to their best eleven in an effort to maximise the best possible results.

The EFL Cup, which has been much maligned, has long been the arena where younger players and the rotation players get a chance to show their skills. This almost always includes the second and maybe third choice keepers in some of the early rounds to play.

That is a huge shot in the arm for players who are stuck on the bench or in the stands for most of the season.

Arsene Wenger is known to prioritise giving younger players a go in the EFL Cup. Some notable players who made their way into the first team after impressing in the EFL Cup include Jack Wilshere, Kieran Gibbs, Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott.

Even though most squads are adequately filled, and most clubs do not rely on their youth to fill up the ranks in the EFL Cup, it is still an exciting opportunity for those not in the spotlight to grab the headlines.

The latest example being Edward Nketiah who scored an injury-time winner for Arsenal against Norwich in the fourth round, which is sure to make him a lot more popular.