Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa has discussed his side's upcoming Carabao Cup second round tie against AFC Wimbledon. The match at Craven Cottage offers a chance for the Premier League side to respond after their 3-2 opening day defeat to Chelsea.
Arbeloa's comments come as AFC Wimbledon sit 14th in League One with four points from three games. Their recent form reads win, draw, loss, and they have scored just once while conceding three times this season. The Dons are three points behind early leaders Blackpool and face a trip to Burton Albion on Wednesday.
Alvaro Arbeloa is clear about the opportunity the Carabao Cup presents. "It's a great opportunity for us, for sure," the Fulham boss said. He framed the competition as a vital platform for players to make an impact and earn valuable game time. With a Premier League away match at Sunderland scheduled for Sunday afternoon, Arbeloa expects significant rotation for the midweek cup fixture.
Fulham have a relatively small squad with the transfer window still open, making the need for internal competition even more important. Arbeloa named several players who must fight for their places, including Rodrigo Muniz, Gonzalo Garcia, Cesar Palacios, and Emile Smith Rowe. Josh King, Oscar Bobb, Shea Charles, and Sander Berge were also mentioned as part of that group pushing for starts.
Rotation is inevitable given the tight schedule. Arbeloa confirmed the match against AFC Wimbledon, coming in under three days after their league opener, will see a large amount of changes. This includes a likely first appearance of the season for defender Kenny Tete. The manager's aim is straightforward: win the tie, advance to the next round where a trip to West Ham awaits, and keep progressing in a competition he wants to win.
"It's another competition that we have a chance to make our impact and, of course, it's a big opportunity for many of our players," Arbeloa stated. This philosophy of using the cup to build squad depth and sharpness is central to his planning. Fans can track the team's selections and performance on our squad page.
For AFC Wimbledon, the cup tie represents a significant test against higher-league opposition. Their League One campaign has been a mixed bag so far, with a -2 goal difference highlighting early-season challenges. The match at Craven Cottage is a major fixture in their calendar, offering a chance to cause an upset.
The Dons' immediate focus after this cup game returns to the league, with that away fixture against 12th-placed Burton Albion on 2 September. Their current league position and form can be followed on our standings page. This cup run provides a different kind of challenge and potential momentum builder for Johnnie Jackson's side.
The Carabao Cup second round match will be played at Fulham's Craven Cottage. Fulham enter after a narrow league defeat, while AFC Wimbledon travel from League One. Arbeloa has explicitly linked strong cup performances to increased competition for starting roles in his Premier League side.
Fulham's desire to go deep in the competition is clear, but they must first handle past a Wimbledon side looking to spring a surprise. The Dons' next league game is away to Burton Albion on Wednesday, 2 September 2026.
