Arsene Wenger has spoken about the importance of squad rotation ahead of Arsenal’s Carabao Cup match against West Ham.

Wenger has hinted that players who haven’t played much recently will get a chance against West Ham in the League Cup on Tuesday evening.

“Some players are a little bit on the edge,” he said.
“I think as well that we have so many quality players who did not start on Saturday, so you cannot say that you prefer to play a player who has played three games in six days to a guy who is at the same level and is completely fresh.
“The players who will start are basically all international players, so that’s why I think [squad rotation] makes sense.
“You have as well to show the trust and the confidence that we have in the players who did not start last week.”

This will be the second time that Arsenal have faced the Hammers in a week and our third game in six days. Therefore, it’s understandable that the boss wants to rest some of his key men ahead of our Liverpool clash on Friday at the same time as making sure the rest of his first team fringe players get a run out.

giroud norwich
(BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)

For example, Wenger confirmed that Theo Walcott, who’s been out with a minor groin injury, will ‘100%’ play. I also imagine we’ll see another start from Olivier Giroud and maybe see Sead Kolasinac’s face after he was replaced in Arsenal’s starting line-up by 20-year-old Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

The Premier League is priority at the moment and although the League Cup is another trophy, I’m not sure many people are bothered about it considering we host Jurgen Klopp’s men at the end of the week.

Wenger will take it seriously in that he’ll pick a mixed team but he won’t be risking his big-hitters.