3 Players Arsenal Must Give Playing Time to in Capital One Cup

In the final stages of the Premier League match with Everton on Saturday, Arsenal appeared to be on their last legs.

After a draining victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League, the first team had to use every physical resource to see out the 2-1 victory, and they were reliant on some excellent late interventions from Petr Cech and Gabriel Paulista to preserve their lead.

Their next game sees them face Sheffield Wednesday in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday. Against Championship opposition, in a competition that is not one of Arsene Wenger’s stated priorities, there will surely be an opportunity for some squad rotation.

In this piece, we identify three players who would benefit from some playing time at Hillsborough.

Calum Chambers

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These cup games are particularly important to Calum Chambers.

As Arsenal’s fourth-choice centre-back, he finds playing time in the Premier League and Champions League difficult to come by. Therefore, it’s important he plays in both domestic cups to prevent his development from stalling.

After spells as a right-back and holding midfielder, Wenger seems to have decided that centre-back is where the 20-year-old will be most effective. That’s a position where it’s only possible to learn by spending time on the field.

Assuming Chambers does play, Wenger must then decide which of his centre-backs to use alongside him.

Per Mertesacker has been declared fit again after missing the match against Everton with illness. The two played together successfully in the last round at Tottenham Hotspur, and it’s possible Wenger will once again seek to use the German’s experience to help guide Chambers through the game.

Kieran Gibbs

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Nacho Monreal’s consistent form at left-back has left Kieran Gibbs on the fringes of the Arsenal squad. He has made only three appearances in the Premier League, all of which have come from the bench.

Generally, he finds himself being used as an emergency midfielder rather than in his preferred role as a full-back.

Gibbs, 26, needs to seize this rare chance to challenge Monreal’s place in the pecking order.

With Luke Shaw currently sidelined, there is an opportunity to earn a place in England’s Euro 2016 squad.

If Gibbs is to do that, he needs to feature more regularly than he does at present. A storming performance in Sheffield could convince Wenger he is ready for some Premier League playing time.

Joel Campbell

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At times, it’s easy enough to forget Joel Campbell is still at Arsenal. He has spent so much of the last few years out on loan it’s difficult to conceive of him as a significant part of Wenger’s plans.

Campbell’s only start thus far this season came in the win at Tottenham. Although he worked hard, the 23-year-old struggled to make a significant impact on the game.

The sense prevails that the Costa Rican is on borrowed time at Arsenal. With Danny Welbeck due to return in January, he will soon be pushed even further down the attacking pecking order.

Campbell has still not scored a competitive goal in an Arsenal shirt. If he were to open his Gunners account at Hillsborough, it might persuade Wenger to use him more regularly between now and Christmas.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout 2015/16. Follow him on Twitter here.