Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has confirmed he will make changes to his side for Wednesday’s EFL Cup quarter-final
clash with Southampton although he still intends to field a strong line-up.

The Gunners have not reached the semi-finals since 2011 while they have not won the competition during Wenger’s 20 years as manager, with their last success coming under George Graham in 1993.

The north London club will be looking to buck that trend with victory over Southampton at the Emirates Stadium, with Wenger confirming he will make alterations to his XI.

“We will have a mixture of youth and experience, but still 90 per cent of a first-team squad,” the Frenchman told the club’s website.

Arsenal head into the tie unbeaten in their last 19 matches in all competitions while they ended a run of three straight draws with a 3-1 Premier League success against Bournemouth on Sunday.

Wenger believes the victory over the Cherries was important following a run of draws. He added: “We were in a winning momentum and suddenly you only make draws, so it gets a little bit in the head of the players.

“For us, I think it was an important step to win against Bournemouth, and having watched the game again, I think we played better than I thought after the game.”

Arsenal have won just two of their last seven meetings with Southampton although one of those was a 2-1 victory at the Emirates earlier this season.

The Gunners are priced at 1.85 to win the match while the Saints are available at 4.00 and the draw is on offer at 3.60.