Confirmed Arsenal team faces Preston – Lots of changes but still a strong team

Arsenal travel to Deepdale to face Preston North End in the Round of 16 of the Carabao Cup and it is this team that has picked Mikel Arteta for the game.

Preston haven't had the strongest season so far and currently sit 16th in the Championship with just 14 points from 12 games. However, her form has improved recently; They are unbeaten in their last five championship games, and at home that streak is already seven games unbeaten.

Preston also beat Fulham in the previous round of this competition and defeated league leaders Sunderland in the round before that, with both wins coming at Deepdale. This shows the crucial role of their home fans, especially when playing against stronger teams.

While it is easy to focus on Arsenal's current injury list, it was always likely that they would field a heavily varied squad for this game. However, a changed Arsenal line-up should still have enough quality to beat a Championship side like Preston – but as we all know in football, nothing can be taken for granted.

As long as Arsenal finish the game with eleven men, anything other than a win for the Gunners would be a huge surprise. They go into this game with confidence after securing a hard-fought draw against Liverpool at the weekend, having shed any lingering doubts following their recent defeat to Bournemouth.

This competition may be Arteta's lowest priority, but you can bet he wants to win this game and the players will feel the same – that's the essence of a winning mentality, which Arsenal have in abundance, regardless of what some experts may say.

Let us know your thoughts on Arteta's lineup and your score prediction for the game in the comments below.