Key events
Some essential pre-match reading here from Will Unwin.
Preamble
Some Arsenal fans spent years pining for one more game at Highbury Stadium; tonight, they finally get their wish. This particular Highbury is 250 miles northwest of Islington – the home of Fleetwood Town, a team the Gunners have never played before.
While their League Two form could hardly be less remarkable (18th place, with 14 points from 13 games), Fleetwood have picked off Chesterfield, Shrewsbury and second-tier Sheffield United in the Carabao Cup without conceding a goal, earning a last-16 glamour tie against the English champions.
With a trip to Anfield looming on Sunday, Mikel Arteta is expected to give his weariest stars a rest. Young talents like Marli Salmon, Ceadach O’Neill and, yes, Max Dowman are expected to start. They can expect testing conditions at a seaside ground where “the wind goes in all directions”.
Of course, even a depleted and under-experienced Arsenal side will be hot favourites to advance, but this has all the makings of a classic midweek Cup test. Kick-off: 8pm GMT.
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