COMFIRM LINE UP: Arsenal vs. Bolton lineups, expected starting 11, confirmed team news and injuries: Arteta counts cost of Etihad battle

Arsenal vs. Bolton lineups, expected starting 11, confirmed team news and injuries: Arteta counts cost of Etihad battle

Mikel Arteta will make changes for Arsenal’s Carabao Cup third-round clash with League One Bolton Wanderers. The question is how many of them will be enforced.

The Gunners battled to a 2-2 draw in a titanic Premier League clash with Manchester City on Sunday, playing 45 minutes with 10 men after Leandro Trossard’s red card before suffering the heartbreak of conceding an equaliser to John Stones in the eighth minute of stoppage time.

Stones joined team-mates Bernardo Silva and Manuel Akanji in accusing Arsenal of exercising “dark arts” tactics in terms of slowing the game down and feigning injury.

“I always prefer the facts to words or supposing things,” Arteta told a pre-match news conference on Tuesday. “Let’s see who is available tomorrow and then we can talk about dark arts or these things or if it’s a reality.

“Unfortunately, yes there will be a few players not available. Tomorrow you will find out. As soon as I give the lineup. We will use the facts. If a player is faking something that means he will carry on and be involved in the squad and play.”

Arsenal vs. Bolton lineups, expected starting 11, confirmed team news

David Raya produced a superb performance against Manchester City despite appearing to suffer with cramps and leaving the Etihad Stadium with a bandage on his knee. However, the Spain goalkeeper could be forced back into action as No. 2 Neto is cup-tied and teenager Tommy Setford has suffered a hip injury.

Gabriel Martinelli, Jurrien Timber and goalscorer Riccardo Calafiori all came off amid Arsenal’s colossal defensive effort during the second half at the weekend and will be assessed. Ben White replaced Bukayo Saka at the interval despite not being fully fit, which does at least mean the latter should be fresh to feature in the forward line.

Myles Lewis-Skelly came off the bench for his Premier League debut against City and is likely to start on Wednesday in light of the aforementioned defensive concerns.

Arsenal predicted XI (4-3-3, right to left): Raya (GK) — Nichols, Gabriel, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly — Nwaneri, Jorginho, Rice — Saka, Jesus, Sterling

Injured: Tierney, Odegaard, Merino, Zinchenko, Tomiyasu, Setford, Raya (doubt), White (doubt), Martinelli (doubt), Timber (doubt), Calafiori (doubt)

Suspended: Trossard

Cup-tied: Neto

Bolton claimed a much-needed 5-2 victory over Reading at the weekend, with Dion Charles hitting a hat-trick before halftime. That was only a second win in six League One matches for Ian Evatt’s side this season.

Ex-Arsenal youngster Jordi Osei-Tutu will unfortunately miss out on a reunion with his former club due to a knee injury.

Bolton predicted XI (3-5-2, right to left): Southwood (GK) — Toal, Johnston, Santos — Dacres-Cogley, Thomason, Arfield, Dempsey, Schon — Adeboyejo, Charles

Injured: Osei-Tutu, Gomes, Lolos, Jones, Forrester

Suspended: None