The Carabao Cup fourth round draw is set for Wednesday, September 16, and that matters because the competition is now at the stage where the margins start to bite. Ten of the 16 teams still alive will be waiting to learn whether the next hurdle is a favourable one or a proper problem.
This is the kind of draw that can change the mood around a campaign in seconds. Home or away still has to be decided, and in a cup this open, that detail is never small. The draw will take place after Manchester United host Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford, which at least gives the competition a proper backdrop before the next round is mapped out.
Why this draw matters
For Arsenal, the route here has already included a 4-2 win over Ipswich Town at Portman Road before a 2-0 victory over Brighton at this stage in the 2025/26 competition. That is the reality of cup football: survive one round and the next one is already waiting, with no time to pretend the path is straightforward.
The fourth-round fixtures will all take place in the week commencing October 26, so this draw is not some ceremonial extra. It sets the tone for the next proper slice of the tournament and tells the remaining clubs exactly what sort of week they are heading into. For the 10 teams still in the mix, the only sensible approach is to hope for a kind hand and prepare for the opposite.
That is the Carabao Cup for you. One moment you are looking at progress, the next you are staring at an awkward tie and wondering whether the draw has just made life a lot more complicated.
