Carabao Cup 2024/25 - Discussion Thread

[The Bald Eagle]

The Carabao Cup stepped up in intensity in round three as the biggest Premier League names entered the competition.

Clubs from England's top flight who have qualified for European football do not take part until the Round of 32, with the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United all coming late to the party.

United were quick out of the blocks, booking their round-four place with a 7-0 triumph over Barnsley, while neighbours City beat Championship side Watford 2-1 — a game that kicked off just 49 hours after an enthralling Premier League draw against Arsenal.

Chelsea continued their recent encouraging form under Enzo Maresca by swatting aside League Two leaders Barrow 5-0.

There is also still plenty of Football League representation, and those teams will hope to claim a big scalp in the last 16.

But when will all the teams involved learn their fate? Here's everything you need to know about the Carabao Cup fourth-round draw.

When is the Carabao Cup fourth-round draw?​

The fourth-round draw for the Carabao Cup takes place on Wednesday, September 25 after Liverpool's third-round clash with West Ham concludes at Anfield.

That game kicks off at 8 p.m. BST (3 p.m. ET) and will finish around two hours later. If games are level after 90 minutes in the Carabao Cup prior to the semifinal stage, they progress straight to a penalty shootout.

Source: Sporting News

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Result of Today's Fixtures (25-09-2024)

 

[BouncerGuy]

Teenager Ethan Nwaneri scored his first Arsenal goals as they cruised to victory over League One Bolton to reach the Carabao Cup fourth round.

The 17-year-old, making his first senior start for the club, slotted into an empty net from Raheem Sterling's cross, before taking advantage of some sloppy Bolton play to pick up the ball from Declan Rice and roll under visiting goalkeeper Luke Southwood.

Nwaneri's two goals came after he had already played a part in Arsenal’s 16th-minute opener with a fizzed cross which Scott Arfield failed to clear and Rice dispatched a calm finish into the bottom corner.

"You can tell he is playing with a confidence and belief and an understanding of what he needs to do on the pitch," said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, whose side will face Championship Preston at Deepdale in the next round.

"In his journey with the first team he is always ahead of what everybody expected and I expected too. He deserves that and he is part of us so he will have the minutes."

Sterling tapped home the fourth from a couple of yards in the 64th minute after Southwood spilled Bukayo Saka's effort. It was the forward's first goal in Arsenal colours, on his first start, since joining from London rivals Chelsea on transfer deadline day.

Kai Havertz wrapped up a convincing win at Emirates Stadium after guiding home a rebound when Sterling's shot was saved.

Aaron Collins had pulled one back for Bolton in the 53rd minute after a brilliant counter-attack. It was ultimately a consolation, but one that denied teenage Arsenal goalkeeper Jack Porter a clean sheet on his record-setting senior debut.

At 16 years and 72 days old, he became the youngest player to start a first-team game for the Gunners, breaking a mark set by Cesc Fabregas in October 2003 in the League Cup against Rotherham.

Porter is the club's fourth choice, but got the call after number one stopper David Raya was ruled out with a thigh injury, summer signing Neto was cup-tied, having already featured in the competition for parent club Bournemouth, and Tommy Setford was also out injured.

"We told him yesterday and he was over the moon," added Arteta on Porter.

"It is a big step, a big occasion, but he reacted really well. He was really composed in training and his team-mates helped him too. What an experience and what a way to break a record."

Young Gunners step up in style

The Carabao Cup has long been seen as an opportunity to bleed in youngsters with Fabregas and Jack Wilshere among those to begin their Arsenal careers in the competition.

After a gruelling Premier League game against Manchester City on Sunday, boss Arteta opted to rest several first-team starters and chose a youthful line-up with Porter, full-back Josh Nichols, 18, Myles Lewis-Skelly, 18, and Nwaneri making their full senior debuts. Two other teenagers Maldini Kacurri and Ismeal Kabia also made their first foray into first-team football off the bench.

But bolstered by the experience of Rice and Jorginho in midfield and the quality of Saka and Sterling on the wings, Arsenal's youngsters had the freedom to showcase their talent in this comfortable victory.

With a packed schedule, the contribution of the young Gunners could prove crucial to the club's push for a first Premier League title in 21 years.

Aside from Collins' breakaway goal, Bolton - who sit 58 places below Arsenal in the football league pyramid - did not create much and defensive errors proved costly at the other end.

BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]