Arsenal's promising striker Benik Afobe has urged his team-mates not to take League Two high-flyers Shrewsbury for granted on Tuesday night.
Gunners starlet hoping Wenger's men can avoid cup upset
Arsenal's promising striker Benik Afobe has urged his team-mates not to take League Two high-flyers Shrewsbury for granted in the Carling Cup on Tuesday night.
The Shrews travel to Emirates Stadium after dumping both Championship side Derby and Premier League newcomers Swansea out of the competition.
The Gunners, who are expected to make a number of changes for the cup clash, lost in the final of the competition last season, with a late defensive error gifting Birmingham the silverware.
Afobe, who is currently sidelined through injury, claims they are determined to go one step further this year and lift their first trophy since the 2005 FA Cup.
"In cup competitions any side can beat another on their day, so I'm sure that the boys won't be taking Shrewsbury lightly," the 18-year-old told
skysports.com.
"They are doing very well in League Two, so they will be a side that are used to winning games.
Progress
"They might feel that they have a good chance of progressing against our youthful reserves and try to give us a tough game, but we will need to overcome that and show what we can do to win the game.
"I'm still injured at the moment, so I'm disappointed because it could have been a big chance for me to play.
"Hopefully, the young lads will still get a chance against Shrewsbury and do enough to get through, so that I can hopefully feature in the next round.
"I'll still go down and the support the boys because a lot of them will be making their first-team debut.
"This competition, like every one, is important to us and it is the first that you can win during the course of the season.
"Hopefully we can go all the way once again this year and go one better by lifting the trophy as well."
