Gunners head for Bradford with only four of PL line-up against West Brom

Which is why, when the Gunners manager yesterday revealed his squad for the trip to Valley Parade, only four of the starting XI that beat West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League on Saturday were included for the trip north to Yorkshire.

Of those, it is doubtful any of Wojciech Szczesny, Per Mertesacker, Thomas Vermaelen and Santi Cazorla will be anywhere but the bench come kick-off as the Arsenal chief again rotates the considerable resources at his disposal.

Among those hoping to be involved is promising youngster Jernade Meade, who if selected will make his first professional start in English football.

The 20-year-old was in the Gunners side beaten 2-1 by Olympiakos in the Champions League last week, a tie that had little resting on the result due to Wenger’s men having already qualified for the knockout stage.

He also played the final 12 minutes of the stunning 7-5 win over Reading in the last round of the League Cup and is believed to be highly rated by the Gunners’ coaching staff.

“Hopefully the boss will have me in his thoughts for Bradford,” said Meade about (tonight’s) tie. “I would love to do that, but it is all down to him.

“I have mixed emotions because we lost to Olympiakos and that is disappointing. But it was a great feeling to make my first start, beyond words really. It was a big leap.

“At Reading, I came on for extra-time. But I would not have expected to play in the Champions League so soon.

“I grew in confidence as the match wore on. I can do better and, hopefully, I will get more chances.”

Striker Olivier Giroud leads the list of absentees for Arsenal tonight due to a back injury. Theo Walcott, who netted a hat-trick in the dramatic win at Reading, is also missing with a calf problem along with Laurent Koscielny (thigh) and Andre Santos (stomach muscle).

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is another to have been left behind along with Jack Wilshere and Keiran Gibbs, opening the door for a host of youngsters to make their mark against Bradford.

Chief among those seems to be Meade, and Wenger admits to having been impressed with the manner in which the youngster has stepped up to first-team level.

The Gunners manager said: “Jernade has his first start at left-back against Olympiacos and had a particularly good first half.

“Coming up from the Under-21s, it is a massive change in the intensity of every fight. I was pleased with Jernade’s attitude and the face that he was not fazed.

“The first time he received the ball, he cut inside when he was closed down and played a pass. He has potential, for sure.”

Meade, who has come through the Arsenal ranks, will be out of contract in the summer, but hopes his first-team breakthrough will be enough to earn him a new deal.

He added: “I need to get my name out there, get people watching me and maybe I can go out on loan soon as well to build up my experience.

“I have so much to improve on, but hopefully the boss sees something in me. This is the last year of my contract and hopefully I can earn another one.

“That is definitely me. I am small, but I don’t get pushed around. I don’t give up. What I lack in height, I make up for in my drive and my fight.

“I feel I can do a job in this position. I am fast and think I read the game well, although of course I can always improve.”

Former Hull City loanee Vito Mannone is expected to start for the Gunners, who have named a 22-man squad for their first trip to Bradford since 2000.

The Italian last featured for the Gunners on November 10 in a 3-3 draw with Fulham, since when he has been replaced by Szczesny.

Arsenal squad: Mannone, Szczesny, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Ramsey, Arteta, Cazorla, Podolski, Martinez, Coquelin, Djourou, Arshavin, Chamakh, Frimpong, Gnabry, Angha, Meade, Miquel, Yennaris, Eisfeld, Bellerin.