Arsenal v Reading; Capital One Cup Match Preview

If the media and select punditry were to be believed one of the biggest news stories is that fact that Arsenal do not place that much of a priority on the Capital One Cup or the cup formerly known as the Carling Cup. I know shocked right?

Again, if the press and select pundits were the masters of knowledge they want us to believe they are then Arsenal are the only club that don’t place the league cup as a high priority.  I am amazed. That was sarcasm in case you missed it.

In reality, the news is really a non-story. The Capital One Cup is not the priority of any club that figures into challenging along 3-4 competitions annually. The League Cup as we all know is the one cup that most teams roll out youth/reserve squads in order to give star players a rest. Hell, I take that back, it’s not even the clubs “challenging” for honours that do this, lesser clubs hoping to maintain their position in the Premier League and avoid relegation field weakened squads.

But is Arsenal. It’s ALWAYS Arsenal that make the news because of two things – the first and rightly so, is the lack of any silverware in 7 years. In that context it is slightly understandable.  Secondly, it’s news because Arsene Wenger dared to actually categorize publicly the League Cup as a “lesser priority” than winning the Premier League title, Winning the Champion’s League, qualifying for the Champion’s League, and the FA Cup.  To quote Mel Brooks, “Oh the agony, oh the shame, to have one’s privates made public by a game.”

Now that I am done with my pontificating and mock incredulity at the idiotic focus of the press we can focus on the match at hand. It’s another round in the League Cup for Arsenal as they venture to the Madjeski Stadium to take on newly promoted Premier League team Reading.

Reading will be looking for a “Cupset” as Arsenal are likely to rest a few of the players like Santi Cazorla and Lukas Podolski who’ve been playing  non-stop through the international break and have showed signs of weary legs and minds. That also means Thomas Vermaelen and Per Mertesacker will likely get rests.

However, the Arsene Wenger is likely to give playing time to those who’ve featured on the fringe or in the likes of Oliver Giroud need more time to build up continued confidence in themselves. Look for Andrei Arshavin, Laurent Kosceilny, Johann Djourou, Emi Martinez, Walcott, and Coquelin to play. But its also likely that promsing youngsters, Serge Gnabry, Thomas Eisfeld, Ignasi Miquel, Hector Bellerin, and possibly Nico Yennaris could get some time.

When you look at all the players being made available, it hardly looks like a weak side. They may not be fully fledged starters and some may even lack confidence but overall it’s a good squad to play this match.

Former Gunner, Brian McDermott, looks to the match as a chance for his side to prove something. McDermott secured the Reading job by managing the side to a 2-1 win over Liverpool at Anfield in 2010. So taking on big sides and achieving is something that is not foreign to him.

“Do we think we have a chance of winning this game of football? Of course we do.

“We will do our best to put on a performance, which is really important for us.

Wenger for his part was full of praise for the former Arsenal player:

“Reading have done well over the years,” he said. “And they have done especially well in their scouting. They are one of the examples of living within their resources. I always respect that. There is some quality work behind their success.

“And you have to congratulate Brian McDermott for promotion last year, I believe he made a miracle basically.

“When you get to the Premier League, the level of expectation is to stay there and I feel they have a chance. McDermott has the qualities to achieve that.

“Reading played a good 3-3 with Fulham at the weekend and they are a tough team. They will be difficult to beat so it will be a big test for us.

“We expect a challenge.”

Arsenal Squad in full: Mannone, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Santos, Ramsey, Arteta, Cazorla, Podolski, Giroud, Martinez, Coquelin, Djourou, Koscielny, Arshavin, Chamakh, Frimpong, Gnabry, Sagna, Angha, Santos, Miquel, Yennaris, Eisfeld, Bellerin.

Probable Starting XI: Martinez; Jenkinson, Djourou, Koscielny, Miquel; Coquelin, Arshavin, Eisfeld; Walcott, Gnabry, Giroud

Projections:

Arsenal: 2

Reading: 1

Editors Note: We apologize for the lack of follow-up post QPR, but we’ve been busy preparing and ultimately hunkering down for Hurricane Sandy. Fortunately we didn’t lose power and now were back up. So, yuo should expect normal article coverage.

DAG