Liam Duckstein
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Ipswich Town host Arsenal in the English Football League Cup on Tuesday 15 September 2026, and the predicted lineups for this one highlight a shared theme with a twist: both managers have largely settled sides, yet each still has one selection puzzle to solve. Gary O’Neil’s Ipswich shows ten of eleven players repeating from their last outing, while Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal is just as consistent at the back but more experimental further forward. That contrast between a settled base and an unsettled cutting edge runs through both team news sections below.
Ipswich Town Predicted Lineup
Ipswich are projected to line up in a 4-2-3-1, the shape Gary O’Neil has preferred across the matches used to build this projection. It is a settled side – 10 of the projected XI started their last match – which points to a trusted group being kept together again here. Dara O’Shea stands out for starting every one of the five matches used in this sample, underlining his status as a defensive fixture, while Exequiel Palacios has started only two of those five and looks the most rotation-prone name in an otherwise steady expected XI.
Ipswich Town predicted XI: Kjell Scherpen; Dara O’Shea, Leif Davis, Jacob Greaves, Issa Diop; Julio Enciso, Saša Lukić, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Exequiel Palacios, Daizen Maeda; Emersonn
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 5 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 37 | Kjell Scherpen | 4/5 | 3/3 |
| D | 26 | Dara O’Shea | 5/5 | 3/3 |
| D | 3 | Leif Davis | 4/5 | 3/3 |
| D | 24 | Jacob Greaves | 4/5 | 3/3 |
| D | 6 | Issa Diop | 4/5 | 3/3 |
| M | 10 | Julio Enciso | 4/5 | 3/3 |
| M | 23 | Saša Lukić | 4/5 | 3/3 |
| M | 7 | Abdul Fatawu Issahaku | 4/5 | 3/3 |
| M | 25 | Exequiel Palacios | 2/5 | 2/3 |
| M | 38 | Daizen Maeda | 3/5 | 2/3 |
| F | 19 | Emersonn | 4/5 | 3/3 |
Arsenal Predicted XI
Arsenal’s expected XI follows Mikel Arteta’s customary 4-3-3, drawn from the six line-ups used to build this projection. Arsenal are just as settled – 10 of the projected XI started their last match – though the shape appears to have used at least one player slightly outside his most natural position here, so this predicted line-up should be read with a little caution in that regard. David Raya has started every one of the six matches in the sample, an ever-present at the back, while Viktor Gyökeres has managed just one start here and did not feature in the last match, making him the biggest doubt in an otherwise nailed-on selection.
Arsenal predicted XI: David Raya; Ben White, Gabriel dos Santos Magalhães, Riccardo Calafiori, Ezri Konsa; Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice; Kai Havertz, Viktor Gyökeres, Christos Tzolis
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 6 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | David Raya | 6/6 | 3/3 |
| D | 4 | Ben White | 6/6 | 3/3 |
| D | 6 | Gabriel dos Santos Magalhães | 6/6 | 3/3 |
| D | 33 | Riccardo Calafiori | 5/6 | 2/3 |
| D | 15 | Ezri Konsa | 3/6 | 3/3 |
| M | 8 | Martin Odegaard | 6/6 | 3/3 |
| M | 7 | Bukayo Saka | 5/6 | 3/3 |
| M | 41 | Declan Rice | 5/6 | 3/3 |
| F | 29 | Kai Havertz | 5/6 | 2/3 |
| F | 14 | Viktor Gyökeres | 1/6 | 1/3 |
| F | 17 | Christos Tzolis | 5/6 | 2/3 |
Injuries and Suspensions
Jack Taylor is out injured, thinning Ipswich Town’s midfield options as O’Neil finalises his team news. Marcelino Núñez, who has started three of the matches used in this sample from the bench, looks the likeliest option to step into that area if needed.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Taylor | M | injured | Knee injury |
William Saliba is out injured, a blow to Arsenal’s central defensive options ahead of this trip. Cristhian Mosquera, with three starts among the matches used here, is the bench option best placed to come into that back line.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Saliba | D | injured | Back Injury |
How We Predict These XIs
These predicted lineups are built from each side’s most recent matches – five line-ups for Ipswich Town and six for Arsenal – with newer matches weighted more heavily than older ones. Anyone confirmed injured or suspended, such as Jack Taylor and William Saliba here, is removed before the projected XI is assembled. This remains a projection rather than a confirmed team sheet, and it will be updated once the official line-ups are announced closer to kickoff.
FAQ
Who is predicted to start in goal for Ipswich Town vs Arsenal?
Kjell Scherpen is projected to start in goal for Ipswich Town, with David Raya expected between the posts for Arsenal.
What formation are Ipswich Town and Arsenal expected to use?
Ipswich Town are projected to set up in a 4-2-3-1 under Gary O’Neil, while Arsenal are expected to line up in Mikel Arteta’s usual 4-3-3.
Who is unavailable for Ipswich Town vs Arsenal?
Jack Taylor is out injured for Ipswich Town, and William Saliba is out injured for Arsenal.
When do Ipswich Town and Arsenal kick off?
The English Football League Cup tie between Ipswich Town and Arsenal kicks off on Tuesday 15 September 2026.