This past weekend saw Arsenal experience a de facto swap of defenders, regarding their injury/fitness situation. Jurrien Timber featured for the first time this season, in the 2-0 win over Sunderland yesterday. The Dutchman has recovered from a groin injury. He was pressed into action at halftime when Ben White suffered a similar injury.
EFL Cup Third Round FYIs
Arsenal at Ipswich Town
Kickoff: Tue Sept. 15, 8pm
Venue: Portman Road, Ipswich, UK
Preview Material: Team News Arsenal Predicted Starting XI
Team News
Manager Mikel Arteta did not provide an update on White, but even if he’s match fit right now, it is unlikely that he’ll feature in midweek.
After all, this is a League Cup clash against a newly promoted side. Ben White will join Cristhian Mosquera (thigh) and William Saliba (recovering from surgery to repair a lower back injury) on the sidelines for this one.
Shifting gears to Ipswich, Azor Matusiwa could return to action on Tuesday night, having recovered from a thigh injury.
Most likely though, he won’t be getting starters minutes in this match. Ipswich manager Gary O’Neil said the following, in his press conference the day before the 3-2 win over Crystal Palace:
“Azor and Jadon (Philogene) are both back fully training with the group.
“Azor will obviously be a little bit longer before he’s available to start football matches, but he’s ready for minutes now. We can start to get him back in and around matchday squads.”
That leaves Jack Taylor as the Tractor Boys’ lone injury absentee. He’ll be out a few weeks with a knee problem.
And then finally, Emersonn exited the win over Crystal Palace early, due to quad tightness, but O’Neil played down the severity of the situation.
He went on to say that Emersonn wouldn’t have played in a cup clash like this anyway.
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network, Ratings and RG. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and the Washington Post.