Three Arsenal players set for Carabao Cup chance against Brighton | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta to hand several fringe players a start in fourth-round tie at Emirates Stadium

Mikel Arteta is expected to rotate when Arsenal play Brighton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.

Arteta made nine changes to his team in the last round at Port Vale and he will make plenty again.

Arsenal are sweating on the fitness of a number of key players who Arteta will not want to risk, and that opens the door for others to impress.

Here, Standard Sport looks at three players hoping to make their mark against Brighton…

Ben White

The right-back has started just three games this season and has been struggling for fitness.

The form of Jurrien Timber has not helped his cause either, with the Dutchman arguably the best full-back in the Premier League right now.

Ben White has started just three games this season

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Chances could be limited for White and so he will be desperate to make the most of Wednesday’s game against his former club.

The 28-year-old is open to representing England again - having not done so since the 2022 World Cup - but he needs to be playing to work his way into Thomas Tuchel’s squad.

White is regarded as one of the most competitive characters in the Arsenal squad and should respond well to the impressive performances that Timber has put in this season.

He also has a great understanding with Bukayo Saka, and the pair made Arsenal’s right flank their most dangerous weapon over the past few seasons.

Ethan Nwaneri

The 18-year-old was one of Arsenal’s standout performers in pre-season, but he has found minutes hard to come by since then.

Nwaneri has started just once this season and that was in the last round at Port Vale.

The arrival of Eberechi Eze in the summer has not helped him.

Ethan Nwaneri’s only start this season came in the last round at Port Vale

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In the absence of Martin Odegaard, who is out with a knee injury, Arteta has turned to Eze instead of Nwaneri.

But the Carabao Cup could prove to be a valuable competition for Nwaneri, who is eager to impress.

He was electric in the early stages of the competition last season, scoring twice against Bolton in the third round and then at Preston in the fourth round.

Nwaneri is viewed as the long-term successor to Odegaard as Arsenal’s right No8 in midfield, but he will still be desperate to make an impact now.

Piero Hincapie

The left-back has played less than 10 minutes for Arsenal after joining on transfer deadline day from Bayer Leverkusen.

Hincapie underwent surgery in the summer and Arteta believes that was behind his early fitness issues, with a groin injury keeping him out.

Piero Hincapie made his Arsenal debut off the bench against Crystal Palace on Sunday

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The Ecuador international is now fit and hungry to make up for lost time. He is a versatile defender and could be used at centre-back or left-back.

Arteta has spoken glowingly about what Hincapie will offer and Wednesday could be the moment he finally makes his full debut.

“It’s great to have Piero on the pitch as well,” Arteta said after Arsenal’s win over Crystal Palace last Sunday.

“You could sense immediately his aggression, his commitment in every action that he does. I think the crowd is going to love him, and [credit to] the rest of the boys that had to come in to win the game.”