Predicted Arsenal XI vs Ipswich as three players earn first starts of the season

Arsenal travel to Portman Road tonight for their Carabao Cup third round tie against Ipswich.

Having reached the final of the competition last season, Mikel Arteta will be keen to go one further this time out.

However, this will be their third away game in eight days, with a fourth looming on the weekend against Brighton.

Heavy rotation is almost guaranteed here. The likes of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice and Kai Havertz will all be rested ahead of Saturday’s trip to the Amex Stadium.

That opens the door for several players who have been waiting for their opportunity in the early part of the season.

And we think three players are in line to make their very first competitive starts of the season.

Kepa, Jurrien Timber and Martin Zubimendi to earn first starts of the season vs Ipswich

In goal, Kepa will likely get the nod over Illan Meslier, with David Raya getting a well-earned rest after his heroics at Sunderland at the weekend.

At the back, Jurrien Timber may well get his first start of the campaign after his impressive return from the bench against Sunderland on Saturday. With Ben White injured, Arteta is left with little choice but to play the Dutchman.

Ezri Konsa and Piero Hincapie could partner each other at centre-back, with the latter coming in to give Gabriel a rest.

Myles Lewis-Skelly keeps his place in the side but drops to left-back — not ideal given how established he has become in midfield, but needs must with the options available. Riccardo Calafiori simply has to be rested.

Meanwhile, Cristhian Mosquera remains a doubt with little having emerged about his condition.

Martin Zubimendi should get his first start of the season in midfield alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Mikel Merino.

That’s a laughably strong trio considering all three were on the bench for the win at Sunderland, with Guimaraes of course scoring the all-important opener.

Zubimendi at right-back is another option worth considering if Arteta wants to manage Timber’s minutes carefully, but we expect him in his natural position tonight.

In attack, Noni Madueke gets what is effectively his first real start of the season, having only started the Community Shield and managed just 40 minutes across three substitute appearances since.

Viktor Gyokeres will lead the line, desperate for a confidence-boosting performance after his difficult Napoli outing. Eberechi Eze starts on the left.

Of course, Max Dowman could feature, as could defender Marli Salmon, but both may have to be patient and come from the bench.

Predicted Arsenal XI vs Ipswich: Kepa; Timber, Konsa, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Zubimendi, Guimaraes, Merino; Madueke, Gyokeres, Eze