The Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong is so eager to start playing again after seven months out with injury that he will be involved in Wednesday's Capital One Cup tie at home to Coventry City even though his manager admits he is not quite ready. The midfielder damaged cruciate ligaments in February while on loan at Wolves and will be on the bench for tonight's third-round tie. "Ideally we should have waited a bit longer to include him again," said Arsène Wenger, "but once you're back, you want so much a chance to be involved. So I want to give him a chance to be involved at least.

" He will be on the bench and, if possible, we will put him on. 's a big moment because he has suffered for a long time and has worked extremely hard.

As is customary for Arsenal, a shadow team of fringe players and promising youngsters will compete in this competition, starting with tonight's match against a side which are second-bottom of League One but will no doubt be rejuvenated by the arrival of a new manager, Mark Robins.

Despite Arsenal not taking this competition as seriously as others, the match is a sell-out as supporters relish the chance to see some of the club's up-and-coming youngsters, with the likes of Hector Bellerin, Kris Olsson, Nico Yennaris, Craig Eastmond, Ignasi Miquel and Serge Gnabry among those who could be involved.

Gnabry, the 17-year-old Germany youth international is one who has especially caught the eye after some promising performces in the reserves and a place on Arsenal's pre-season training camp.

"Serge Gnabry is a great hope for the future," said Wenger. "I rate him highly. He is in the category of Oxlade-Chamberlain and Walcott – guys who have great power, great pace, good dribbling skills. Goal scoring potential and good vision as well for the final ball. He can play central behind the striker or on the flanks.

"He had some injuries. If he continues his development, I think he could play this season in the first team. At the moment he needs to work and ensure he remains fit.

Also due to play tonight is the Russian international Andrey Arshavin. Arsenal are prepared to let him leave for free but the forward has been left in limbo after a move to Zenit St Petersburg recently fell through. However, Wenger has been impressed by 31-year-old's attitude. "I have personally a great respect for Andrey Arshavin because sometimes some wrong ideas circulated about him – that he doesn't care, but it's completely the opposite," said Wenger. "He's a 200 per cent professional who works every day very hard in training. At the moment he's a victim of the high level of competition that exists for places. I think he has a huge respect from everybody in the dressing room, and especially from the staff. We will give him of course some competition on Wednesday night."