Three days later, after a brief rest and reset, the fires of English football flared up again.
The third round of the League Cup officially began, and Arsenal marched into action once more.
A packed schedule across multiple competitions remained a routine test for Arsenal this season.
With a winning streak keeping them atop the Premier League and first place already secured in their UEFA Champions League group, the pressure on both fronts had eased.
To keep the first-team players fresh for the tough Premier League and UEFA Champions League fixtures ahead, they needed rest.
Wenger once again made sweeping changes, rotating the entire lineup for this match.
All the established starters were rested, watching from the sidelines as the reserves took the field.
Li Yufei, Suarez, De Bruyne, and Modrić all sat out the match.
Across the defense, midfield, and attack, ninety percent of the positions went to reserves and rising academy talents.
An entirely revamped lineup started against their opponents in this round of the cup.
Arsenal's opponents were an established club from the EFL Championship.
As England's second tier, the EFL Championship boasted a far higher overall standard than League One.
Their squad contained plenty of experienced professionals, and their tactical system was mature and well-rounded.
They excelled at physical duels and attacks down the flanks, showing plenty of resilience in tough matches.
They consistently ranked among the Championship's leading sides and had the quality to challenge for the Premier League promotion places.
Visiting the Arsenal dynasty this time, the Championship side arrived full of fighting spirit.
Everyone at the club hoped to use the cup stage to challenge an elite powerhouse and prove their worth.
Before the match, their head coach publicly declared that his team would fight with everything they had and would never simply