Arsenal youth goalkeeper Jack Porter appears set to join the first-team squad for Wednesday’s match against Port Vale, after taking part in training on Tuesday.
Over the years, Arsenal have generally used the League Cup to give opportunities to youth players, but that may be more difficult in this year’s competition.
After making eight first-team summer signings, Arsenal have a relatively large squad, so the League Cup may be needed to give minutes to the senior rotation players.
Even so, the expectation is that at least one or two youth players will join the first-team squad against Port Vale, with Max Dowman the most likely.
Other than Dowman, Jack Porter appears to be in line to travel to the game. Arsenal almost always take three goalkeepers to matches, even if there’s only space for two to be named in the squad.
Tommy Setford would have been the obvious pick, but Setford played for the Arsenal u21s against Newport County on Tuesday night.
The same is true for the likes of Andre Harriman-Annous, Charles Sagoe Jr., Josh Nichols, and Marli Salmon. They’ve all been involved with the first team in matches or pre-season fixtures in the past, but they all played against Newport County and are seemingly unavailable on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Porter was in training with the first team on Tuesday, having made his senior debut for Arsenal at this stage of the League Cup last year.
It seems Porter will join David Raya and Kepa Arrizabalaga on the team bus, with Kepa likely to make his competitive debut for the Gunners against Port Vale.