Arsenal Faces Tough Test Against Ipswich in EFL Cup
Arsenal’s perfect start to the 2026-27 campaign now faces a different kind of examination. Unbeaten in the Premier League and in Europe, Mikel Arteta’s side step into a third front on Tuesday night, heading to Ipswich Town for a tricky EFL Cup third-round tie.
Six games played, six games won, and just two goals conceded across all competitions. The latest chapter came with a controlled 2-0 victory over Sunderland, a match overshadowed by what Arteta branded an “unacceptable” penalty decision but ultimately another three points in the bank. Momentum is not the issue. History in this competition is.
Arsenal’s relationship with the League Cup remains strained. Last season’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the final stretched their wait for a first triumph in the tournament since 1993. For a club chasing every available trophy, that gap grates. The EFL Cup may sit below the Premier League and Champions League in the pecking order, but it still offers an early chance to put silverware on the board and feed a winning habit.
Ipswich, who dispatched Leicester City 3-1 in the second round, will sense an opportunity if Arsenal’s immaculate start masks any complacency. Arteta, though, has little room for comfort when he looks at his defensive options.
White worry, Timber boost
Ben White has been ever-present this season, a constant on the right side of Arsenal’s back line. That reliability took a hit at the Stadium of Light. The defender was seen clutching his groin before being withdrawn at half time against Sunderland, a worrying sight given the schedule ahead.
Arteta chose not to expand on the England international’s condition afterwards, but the signs point towards caution. White is now a major doubt for the trip to Portman Road, with the club listing a possible return date of September 15 – the Ipswich tie itself. Even if he makes the squad, Arsenal are unlikely to take unnecessary risks this early in the season.
The timing of Jurrien Timber’s recovery softens the blow. The Dutchman has just returned from his own groin issue and came through the entire second half at Sunderland without any setbacks. His versatility across the back line suddenly becomes invaluable as Arteta weighs up rotation against the need to keep the winning run alive.
Mosquera edging closer
Cristhian Mosquera’s situation is more encouraging than it first appeared. The Spaniard has missed Arsenal’s last three matches in all competitions after suffering a hamstring strain against Aston Villa. Those injuries can linger, but the early feedback from the training ground is positive.
Arteta has described Mosquera as doing “really well” in his recovery, and crucially, the defender has not been ruled out of the Ipswich clash. Officially, he too is listed as a major doubt with a potential return date of September 15. That places him in the grey area that managers know well: fit enough to be considered, but perhaps not yet ready to start.
Should Mosquera make the bench, it would at least give Arteta another defensive option as he juggles minutes and manages workloads.
Saliba remains the long-term absentee
One situation is far more clear-cut. William Saliba will not be involved.
Arsenal’s only long-term absentee, the French centre-back continues to battle a back problem that flared up during the World Cup. The issue has already cost him significant game time, and the club do not expect him back until at least November 21, when Newcastle United are the scheduled opponents.
Without Saliba, Arsenal have still defended with authority, but every extra game in a packed calendar stretches depth a little further. The League Cup may offer chances to those on the fringes, yet the margin for error shrinks quickly if injuries stack up.
No suspensions, but no room to breathe
There is at least one clean slate for Arteta: Arsenal have no suspensions to contend with for this match. Every outfield player who is fit is available for selection.
So the equation is simple and demanding. An unbeaten record to protect, a competition that has long eluded them, a fanbase hungry for trophies, and a squad already feeling the first twinges of a long season.
Does Arteta lean into the momentum and go strong again, or trust his depth and gamble that the fringe players can keep the run alive in a stadium that will be desperate for an upset?
