Southern section Group E of the 2024-25 EFL Trophy commences on Tuesday night, when Leyton Orient welcome Arsenal Under-21s to the Gaughan Group Stadium.

Leyton Orient:

Leyton Orient will kick off their EFL Trophy campaign against Arsenal Under-21s on Tuesday night at the Gaughan Group Stadium, aiming to turn around a challenging start to their League One season. Former semi-finalists in the 2012-13 EFL Trophy, Leyton Orient have struggled to make an impact in recent years, failing to advance beyond the group stage in the last two seasons and not progressing past round two since the 2014-15 campaign. Despite their recent woes in the league, where they have yet to secure a point from their first four games and suffered a 3-0 defeat to Shrewsbury Town, they have shown resilience in cup competitions. Richie Wellens’s squad has made headlines with impressive victories over Newport County and Millwall in the EFL Cup, setting up a third-round tie with Premier League side Brentford. With their league form faltering, a strong performance in the EFL Trophy could provide a much-needed morale boost and restore some pride.

Arsenal Under 21:

In contrast, Arsenal Under-21s are enjoying a superb start to their season and will look to extend their form into the EFL Trophy. Managed by Mehmet Ali, Arsenal's young prospects have been in scintillating form in Premier League 2, winning their first three matches against Manchester United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Aston Villa, with an impressive 4-1 victory over the latter. Arsenal’s Under-21s are leading the Premier League 2 standings with 11 goals scored, showcasing their attacking prowess. However, their record in the EFL Trophy has been less impressive, with their best performance being a quarter-final appearance in the 2021-22 season. Despite the strong league performance, they will face Leyton Orient with a slightly reshuffled squad, as key player Khayon Edwards will be suspended due to a recent red card. Seb Ferdinand is expected to step into the XI, with Nathan Butler-Oyedeji taking up the central forward role. Arsenal’s youthful squad, including players like Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, will be eager to prove that they can make a significant impact in this competition.

Prediction:  2-1

Leyton Orient vs Arsenal U21 stream and TV listing

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