Arsenal v Brentford - Preview and possible lineups

Arsenal: Emile Smith-Rowe is in line to make his full debut for Arsenal, but they are facing a crisis at the back - Koscielny, Jenkinson and Kolasinac are all out. Mkhitaryan, Maitland-Niles and Mavropanos are also facing late tests. 

Brentford: Moses Odubajo could make his first appearance since recovering from a knee injury, but Rico Henry is still out of contention. 

Emery: For us, every competition is important and also [this is one] that we can play and find our way in this competition and towards this title. Also we can give players chances to play, chances to take confidence and minutes in the game. For us it is the opportunity to do well in this competition, looking towards the title and look to ask the players for [a] performance. One possibility is to give the players who are playing less in one competition to take minutes and this responsibility going forward.

Smith: The players are still a bit down after Saturday’s result and performance really.I haven’t named the team yet so they aren’t aware of what I’m going with but for me, you want to progress as far as you can in the competition so if you draw the lowest ranked team at home, then all the better, and that’s no disrespect to Macclesfield. Arsenal, Man United away, tough games, we know this is a tough game and we have to be right at our best if we want to progress.

Score prediction: 3-0

Arsenal possible lineup: Leno, Lichtsteiner, Holding, Mustafi, Pleguezuelo, Elneny, Zelalem, Guendouzi, Iwobi, Smith Rowe, Welbeck

Brentford possible lineup: Bentley, Barbet, Mepham, Jeanvier, DAlsgaard, Macleod, McEachran, Benrahma, WAtkins, Sawyers, Maupay