Wenger names strong side for Spurs clash

Arsene Wenger has named a strong side for tonight’s Carling Cup third-round tie at north London rivals Tottenham, where he will serve a one-match touchline ban.

Lukasz Fabianski will play in goal, while Johan Djourou, Emmanuel Eboue, Kieran Gibbs and Carlos Vela all start having been unused substitutes at Sunderland.

Tomas Rosicky – who missed a crucial penalty on Saturday – captains the side.

Samir Nasri, Denilson and Jack Wilshere also start, as will youngster Henri Lansbury, while the likes of Andrey Arshavin and Marouane Chamakh are on the bench.

Spurs, also now competing in the Champions League, hand debuts to Brazilian Sandro Ranieri, third-choice goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa and 18-year-old defender Steven Caulker.

Tottenham: Pletikosa, Naughton, Bassong, Caulker, Assou-Ekotto, Bentley, Livermore, Palacios, Sandro, Pavlyuchenko, Giovani.

Subs: Cudicini, Hutton, Huddlestone, Lennon, Jenas, Keane, Kranjcar.

Arsenal: Fabianski, Eboue, Koscielny, Djourou, Gibbs, Lansbury, Denilson, Wilshere, Nasri, Rosicky, Vela.

Subs: Almunia, Sagna, Clichy, Arshavin, Chamakh, Eastmond, Emmanuel-Thomas.

Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)