Portman Road

Despite being drawn against the Premier League leaders, Ipswich Town might consider the visit of Arsenal a relief in the context of their embarrassing EFL Cup exits in the last two seasons, losing to fourth-tier teams on both occasions.

The Tractor Boys were beaten at Bromley last season and AFC Wimbledon in 2024/25, making it little surprise that Gary O’Neil is optimistic the “energy” of Portman Road can inspire his side to vanquish those upsets and cause one of their own to reach the last 16.

“We’re a different level to Arsenal at this moment, but we’ll be strong on Tuesday,” said O’Neil (via the Ipswich Star), adding that Town “missed the opportunity” to take advantage of an evening atmosphere at home when they lost 2-0 to Liverpool on September 4.

“Preparing for the game from a tactical point of view will be fairly straightforward. Stopping them and stopping what they do will not be.”

Ipswich beat Leicester City 3-1 in their first game of this season’s competition to reach this stage, while Arsenal are featuring for the first time and have won all five of their games in all competitions so far.

The Gunners are six points above Town, whose 3-2 victors at Crystal Palace through new signing Zian Flemming’s 90th-minute winner means they have six points from four games in the league.

“We’re going to keep going as a squad,” forward Bukayo Saka said (via Arsenal’s website), discussing their depth of selection options after their 2-0 win at Sunderland on Saturday.

“That’s going to give us a lot of strength for the season. We need to keep going – it doesn’t stop.”

Ipswich Town v Arsenal: Carabao Cup team news

Ipswich winger Jaden Philogene returned from an ankle issue as a second-half substitute at Palace.

Azor Matusiwa is back in full training following thigh surgery but fellow midfielder Jack Taylor is out with a knee injury.

O’Neil made nine changes in the previous round, giving Abdoul Ouattara his debut and bringing academy prospects Charlie Compton and Tudor Mendel off the bench.

Centre-back William Saliba is out for Arsenal, with right-back a potential problem area because Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera are doubts.

Kepa Arrizabalaga is likely to start in place of first-choice goalkeeper David Raya and wing prodigy Max Dowman was among the players picked at this stage of the competition last season.

Ipswich v Arsenal: EFL Cup predicted line ups

Ipswich: Christian Walton, Darnell Furlong, Dara O’Shea, Cedric Kipre, Abdoul Ouattara, Jack Clarke, Cameron Humphreys, Marcelino Nunez, Sindre Egeli, Kasey McAteer, Chuba Akpom

Arsenal: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Piero Hincapie, Ezri Konsa, Jurrien Timber, Martin Zubimendi, Bruno Guimaraes, Mikel Merino, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, Viktor Gyokeres

Ipswich Town v Arsenal: Carabao Cup stats

• In the five editions of this fixture in the EFL Cup since the teams first met in the competition in 1970/71, there have been two wins for each side and one draw
• Ipswich matched their best-ever EFL Cup run by reaching a semi-final against Arsenal in 2011, winning the first leg 1-0 at home before exiting with a 3-0 defeat in the return game
• That win is the only time they have avoided defeat in their last seven meetings with Arsenal in all competitions, losing the other six encounters 13-0 on aggregate
• Their record at home to Arsenal this century is W1 D1 L2, most recently losing 4-0 in the 2024/25 Premier League
• Town have gone past the EFL Cup second round once in their last 10 campaigns, losing 3-1 at home to Fulham in the fourth round in 2022/23
• That defeat to Liverpool is their only home loss in all competitions since a defeat to Charlton Athletic in the Championship on October 21 2025, winning 14 and drawing six of their other games at Portman Road during the period
• Arsenal have won eight of their last 11 matches in the EFL Cup, losing last season’s final against Manchester City and suffering two defeats to Newcastle in the 2024/25 semi-finals
• The defeat to City extended their 33-year wait to lift the trophy for a third time, having triumphed in 1987 and 1993
• They have 32 wins to 18 for Ipswich in the history of the fixture in all competitions, with 11 draws and Gunners legend Ian Wright the all-time top scorer in games between the teams, netting nine times
• Saka matched Robert Pires’ tally of 84 goals for Arsenal by scoring his third of the season and 84th overall for the club with a penalty during second-half added time against Sunderland

Ipswich v Arsenal: EFL Cup stats, recent form

Where to watch Ipswich v Arsenal: TV channel, live online streams

Kick-off on Tuesday is at 20:00 BST (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT), with live coverage in the UK on Sky Sports Plus.

Via Now TV, Sky Sports costs £14.99 for a day membership, £27.99 a month for a 12-month membership or £34.99 a month with no contract.

Ipswich Town v Arsenal: Carabao Cup prediction

With both teams facing league away games on Saturday, O'Neil and counterpart Mikel Arteta could field equally weakened sides. On that basis, Arsenal's form and superior squad should still give them the edge.