Carling Cup Quarterfinals: Arsenal v Wigan Athletic: Match Preview
A Strong Side for A Strong Cup Run?
Sheesh. I mean the Carling Cup really? I actually have to write something? Well, like I said in the last round, if Arsene can give a damn I guess I can too.
In this round of the Carling Cup our opponent is Wigan Athletic, they of the relegation zone. It’s a shame really, because I do like their manager Roberto Martinez because he is trying to build a club that plays football “the right way.” He is also a manager who consistently hails Arsenal as the ideal model on how an EPL club should be run (whether you agree with that statment is irrelevant.)
Wigan come to a place that hasn’t been too friendly to the home side this season. In a turn around of fortunes, Arsenal have been outstanding on the road, sporting the league’s best record but their home form is frustratingly worrisome. For a team fighting off relegation, as Wigan is, the cup tie is a welcome distraction from that. Given what they’ve probably seen of Arsenal at home this season they may be liking their ability to score an upset. However, this could be a challenge for them as one of the talismanic players, Hugo Rodallego, is set to serve the second match of his three match ban. Plus there are some injury issues coming in to this match for Wigan that could make it hard for this squad to get going.
But, we are at home and well we haven’t been exactly the most convincing squad here.
What makes this Quarterfinal tie so interesting, I guess, from an Arsenal stand point is the inclusion of some major talent in the squad. By the looks of it the attack will be lead by Walcott, Van Persie and Bendtner. In the EPL and even in the Champion’s League that is a good front line some teams would want. Interestingly all three have something to prove. For Walcott and Van Persie that they can get into form after long injuries kept them out disrupting promising starts. For Bendtner, who in this blog I have called a loud-mouthed non-productive lout, he now has the chance to prove to the manager and the fans why he shouldn’t be shipped out to Bayern Munich in January (or Juventus – it all depends on the press report).
The midfield will likely be a mix of bench and first teamers and reserves. Look for Rosicky to wear the Captain’s arm band and be the focal point of the attack. I’d also suspect that Denilson will get a go out. The other DM is a bit of quandry. Alex Song needs a rest. If I am Wenger I am leaving him off the squad and letting him get that rest. Which would leave Craig Eastmond as the other DM role (Diaby still out injury). Now to be honest, I rate Eastmond and think there is a talent to be developed there, but in his last outting he was less than convincing. I will chalk that up to lack of playing time but he is another player that needs to start pressing the competition for the DM roles in the squad.
As for the defencive line, the central backs will likely be Koscielny and Djourou. Koosh needs the playing time as I think this whole year is about getting him aclimated to the league. he has shown great promise but as we have discussed on numerous occasions, has been prone to the big gaffe that results in either a goal or a solid chance. He is solid in the air and some of his tackling has been match saving. It has been some of his other tackling that has been match damning (if you will) if he gets that under control and works a little on his strength, I think he could form a nice pair in the middle with Vermaelen for the next few years. Djourou in my opinion is sitting the bench for a reason, I cannot understand. Sure he will get the run out here but frankly his last two premier league starts have been solid. Especially against Spurs he was phenomenal all match. It is clear that playing is making him better and given the shakiness that Koscielny has shown in the league. Only one the left back is a known for me. Kieran Gibbs will get the start and spell Clichy some rest. On the other side I am not sure yet who will start. Press reports claim that Emmanuel Eboue is not going to be out for six weeks and that he could be fit for today. The other likely candidate would be Havard Nordtveit. I would like to see Nordtveit as the RB in this match for a couple of reasons. First, I am sadly disappointed in Eboue. His speed forward and the threat he posed off the bench last season, seems to be missing. I don’t know if it is lack of playing time or the fact that Eboue seems to be benefitting from the tasty goodies that are on display in Arsenal’s pressers. Either way he just hasn’t been a viable option for us this season. To me that means Nordtveit should be it. Give the kid a chance to show that he is Sagna’s heir apparent.
In goal, I don’t care how healthy he is but Manuel Almunia should not feature between the sticks for Arsenal ever again. The future is now and Wojicech Szczesny needs to get his playing time. Wigan will be mostly first team Premier League side. And he needs to face squads like this to see how he handles them. He has been outstanding so far in the previous rounds. Now is not the time to make a bone headed move and take that away from the kid who just recently signed a long-term extension with the team. Szczesny must start.
So my line up (in case you weren’t keeping track): Szczesny, Nordtveit, Gibbs, Koscielny, Djourou, Eastmond, Denilson, Rosicky, Walcott, Bendtner, Van Persie
My prediction? 3-1 to the Arsenal
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FIFA is not different than any other organization in regards to politics.
208 federations – mostly small countries; many are influenced by relationships their
country’s government have with other country governments.
re: summer sweltering heat
When did any association UEFA, FA, FIFA care about the welfare of the players? Its all about
the money and Qatar stepped up to the plate.
stepped up with what? bribes?
its 120 DEGREES in the Summer.
They are talking about needing INDOOR stadiums, or somehow outdoor air-conditioning.
The population of HOUSTON, TX is the same as QATAR, and every person in the country would have to go to the games to assure sold out venues.
Sorry, but Qatar makes absolutely ZERO sense from any stand-point.
akes sense to Platini and Blatter. By awarding the games to Russia and Qatar, neither of them, their respective families and heirs will ever have to work for money again for the next few hundred years.
I’m very glad the USA lost the 2022 WC (although I’m not sure how Qatar won it).
I’ve been opposed to the bid ever since Chicago was ruled out as a host city. Yes, part of my sentiment is based on home-town bias, but there’s also an objective aspect of it:
-3rd largest city in the country
-hosted the opening match and a semi-final at the 1994 WC
-and, most importantly, it is the HEADQUARTERS of the US Soccer Association!!
I honestly think that makes your bid look bad, if the city where your FA is located can’t even make the cut.
Really Chicago?
If your city can’t host games, then the whole country should lose out?
REALLY?
If there were matches in Chicago, and not in Boston, I’d just travel.
Jebus, CG!
I could take a loss to Austrialia or Japan because I would accept they deserved it … but Qatar?? Their population is 1.2 million! How will they fill the stadiums?
The Emirates alone is 5% of their entire country’s population! I would imagine they would have to make really small-sized stadia (like 10,000).
And the Arabian summer heat? How will the atmosphere be like? Segregated seating with men on one side, women (in burka) on the other side?
Strange decision really.
I figure Qatar just threw a lot of oil money their way and FIFA being one of the most corrupt institutions in the world handed it over.
And no Samba girls parading in bikinis?
No Dutch girls in Orange minis?
Hell no! :-D
Russia wins host nation for 2018 WC and Arshavin is part of the Russian delegation
that takes the stage to accept. The small group of delegates also included Putin.
I can imagine the English press having a field day with that photo op……..another drummed up reason to hate
Arsenal.
Sorry, but there was no Putin on stage. He didn’t even fly to Zurich.
right, my error…..it was Abramovich
I’ve withheld comment on the CC match given that I missed much of it due to a poor and often interrupted stream. Overall it seemed like a tepid performance but enough to dispense with a poor Wigan side.
I’m a bit shocked by the reaction to the win and the other CC results and draw. True, everything favors us and we should have a clear path to the Finals and a trophy raising. And it IS important that we break the drought. Still, I think the notion that we drop the players that have gotten us this far is misplaced. But at least we’re seeing folks who never agree on the same page, with the (for me, very strange) idea that if we don’t play our first team and then blow it, we can then put it all on the manager. At least Fred clarified who he likes in the CC squad (Sneezy and Gibbs)….while others just cry for Wenger to put out our “best players” or “first team” (who exactly?), because somehow it’s all about who is to blame when we screw it up.
Of course, Wenger will dig deep into the squad in the CC matches, so stumping for the COMPLETE UNREALITY (and, IMO, utter stupidity) of flogging the “first team,” maybe, gives (wayward) supporters the ability to say “I told you so” if the trophy slips through our hands. If that’s what it takes for some (who, I presume, have completely lost faith in the manager) to find “support” for the club, then so be it….
The fact of the matter is that Arsenal’s greatest strength, right now, is the depth of the squad. Personally, I think we’re awfully thin at the back, (GK, CB, FB and DM) and we’re crossing our fingers that a bunch of iffy players stay fit AND play more Jekyll than Hyde. If they don’t, I think a buy or two in January to strengthen the defense will be necessary. IMO it would be a miracle if EVERYBODY back there stays uninjured AND plays well enough in the interim.
Further forward we look better with a lot of options and plenty of pressure on players to make the most of their opportunities, which seemed a sizable issue in the Wigan match. For us to compete beyond the Carling Cup, we’ll need continued competition for places, with our attackers making the most of their time on the pitch. Two legs against Ipswich and 120 minutes (possible) in the final are fantastic opportunities for the likes of Walcott, Vela and Bendtner to press Chamakh, Arshavin, Nasri and RVP, who, unless they need match time, should be sitting on the bench to come in only if we need them.
But now (and for the future) we need to keep our eyes on the bigger prizes. We haven’t won a home league match in over a month (and that was at the death vs West Ham) and we must against Fulham. And because our gambles at Shaktar and Braga failed, we’ll have to field a solid first team for the final CL group match. And then the showdown with (league leaders) United. You may think I’m a nut, but I’m a little disappointed that we don’t have to get through them en route to the CC….Every match (obviously) is a challenge, but for this team to really get over the hump we need to prove ourselves against the biggest clubs.
For me, I hope we win the CC. Hopefully it will be a happy moment for supporters and the full squad of players, and, most hopefully, it will be a springboard to further glory in bigger competitions against more formidable opponents….
But then again, I’m a hopeful sort of guy….
It is not all about who is to blame when we screw it up …. it will be ALL Wenger and no one else. It is Ipswich then one of Birmingham/West Ham.
There can be absolutely no excuses. Even AKBs will be quiet.
——————
I dont see how we are thin at the back we have 8 defenders plus Harvard. One CB is currently injured and thats it. Sure we can argue on if the quality is there but numbers wise we are OK.
The problem is in CM/DM where we are suffering from an acute shortage of numbers and quality.
Again, with the lumping folks into AKBs and (well, what exactly is the alternative, SWaNs–Sack Wenger Now?)….We all question the manager to some extent….Even Andez above is saying he’s picked the wrong Captain (winky face….)
We agree there’s trouble at DM, which is no longer an actual position, just a spot players rotate into if perchance we lose possession….
But let’s talk about the quality of the players at the back….
Keeper. Most want Mooney gone, but we’re all holding our breath on Flappy, and Sneezy for all the (fantastic) potential on show (and the clean-sheets) is an unknown quantity if thrown into tougher spots.
CB: TV5, I fear, is fighting for his career. If he can’t play or train w/o pain by Jan 1, a replacement seems necessary. The others, even if we deem them good enough have problems with frailty (Djourou), current knocks/age (Squill) and suspensions/poor covering (Kos). A Sol like signing might be just the ticket….
Fullbacks: It’s good to see Gibbs (who doesn’t shy from a confrontation like a good English fellow) able to walk off a few hard tackles vs Wigan. Still a durability question. Sagna (best defensive RB in England/Europe?) needs to stay healthy so we don’t get the fat fella in tights (Eboue) wasting time faking injury. Much as I can laugh at the antics (his only real contribution lately) I sometimes wonder if we’d be a hungrier unit (pun intended) if he were gone. Anyone can help out with goal celebrations….Finally Clichy….but that’s been beaten to death already. Of course, Nordtveit has played exactly 0 first team minutes….
My point….Currently healthy players I have iron-clad faith in = 1 (Sagna). Perhaps that number is higher for other folks, but somehow I doubt it….
But you say we don’t need to buy in January….Who’s the AKB now? (Giant Winky Face…..)
I didnt say we didnt need to buy. You all know my opinion of Eboue, Clichy and Koscielny. I dont see Wenger replacing any of the dross, so no point looking for an extra buy there.
All I said was that numbers-wise we are “full” (except for say a Campbell type half-season loan).
How main, giant, neon-glaring problem remains CM/DM – numbers, experience and quality wise.
I agree completely with Romford Pele’s call for Vermaelen to be our captain.
Fabregas talks a good game. Things he said that our team lack of winning mentality. Good call Cesc. Problem is – can anyone recall on what occasion when Arsenal lost in a big game, Cesc being the lone shining light?
NONE. I personally can’t recall one single match. As far as I’m concerned, whenever Arsenal were defeated in a big game, Cesc was just as poor as everyone else on the pitch. You never got a feeling like – boy, look how good Cesc played? Shame we didn’t surround him with better players.
The feeling was more like – damn, the whole team was poor. And where the hell is our captain? Our number 1 star? Our go to guy?
Being a leader, it’s not about leading by words. Even a bench player could come out and accuse the team for lack of winning mentality. Without ACTION to back it up, words are just as cheap, as empty, as meaningless as nothing.
At this point, I’m hoping that TV5 plays football again. Latest word is not until the new year….
Cesc as Captain/Leader is certainly in question, as many have pointed out. Obviously a fine, fine player, with so much to contribute (and teach). Cesc’s technical ability AND his contributions in such a brutal league (face it folks, the referee protection is lacking….), as I think Fred and others have pointed out, is remarkable.
Still he needs to get healthy, in body and in mind, for the team to get where it should. The constant attempts to influence the referees need to at least become more subtle….and whether due to injury or other factors, given his immense abilities, we can only conclude that it’s been an awfully disappointing first 3.5 months of the season. We need him back, injury and other distractions, put firmly to bed….
The match at OT, where we speculate Cesc will return will be an interesting barometer….
Why on earth do you AKBS absolutely HATE Fabregas? What has he done to y’all?
And who is Vermaelen? He has been at Arsenal the whole of ONE year! He didn’t exactly cover himself in glory in the big games last season either. How about we wait for him to come back from his seemingly endless injury and play a couple of seasons first?
————–
Back to Fabregas:
When will you get it into your head that AMs like Fabregas don’t and can’t physically “lift” their teammates performances???
Go watch Zidane, Kaka, Sneijder, Riquelme, Boban, Deco, Veron, Hagi, Enzo Scifo and every other PASSING based AM of the last two decades. None of them EVER looked good in a poor playing team.
Why because they depend on the team being solid without them. They then make a good team great. When I say solid, I mean DEFENSIVELY solid. They need PROTECTION and a BALANCED MIDFIELD!
Notice how Fabregas is in wonderland when he has solid defensive backup like he did with Flamini and with Song last season (when he was only a DM)? Notice how Zidane is a phoenix when he has Makelele and Vieira as his guard hounds but becomes a big pussy when he had Helguera and Pavone? There are so many examples of this.
Even with his allegedly “poor” performances, he has MORE forward passes in the final third of the pitch than ANY other player in the league (per game played).
What you guys are looking for is a guy like Gerrard or Vieira who can physically ramp up their team. Sorry, that is not and was never Fabregas (or any other “passing” AM). Understand that.
I believe Fabregas wants to lift a trophy at Arsenal. Leave him alone and find another scapegoat.
Don’t worry he will be gone soon and Denilson can fill the void ;-)
Agree completely with everything you’ve said here, EXCEPT the generalization about AKBs always picking on Fabregas….
Wouldn’t an AKB be supportive of whoever was AW’s choice of Captain, at all times?….(Just saying….)
It seems a little beside the point debating who should be Captain between two injured players….For Fulham, I expect Rosicky (playing in Cesc’s position) to be wearing the armband….
Sneijder never stood out or fit with Real. Since moving to Real, Kaka has been a disappointment. Ditto for Deco at Chelsea. Can’t remember enough about the others.
A common thread this season has been the team’s inability to finish off teams and poor execution on goal scoring chances. Integral to our attack is our captain – AS EVERYTHING SEEMS TO GO THROUGH HIM (when he’s not hurt).
Prior to this season, Cesc never was criticized. As we all waited (post WC) to see which Cesc would return to Arsenal, there have been a progression of performances that are raising red flags.
Commentary covers a range of topics but most remarks center on particular player performances. We all have our favorite players and criticism of them can be sensitive.
RvP (his proneness to injury), Clichy, Denilson, Eboue, Almunia, Fabianski, Bendtner, Vela, Arshavin, Rosicky (injury), Nasri (injury), Vermaelen (especially matches vs. Barca), Diaby (injury), and of course Wenger – all subject to regular criticism.
Whether you agree or not, many saw Cesc’s actions or inactions this summer as a disrespect to Arsenal. Many are looking for the return of Cesc we had last season OR close to it. If he needs more time for fitness, ok. If longer recovery from his hamy is needed, fine.
His recent performances don’t appear to be manifested by either of the above and so that leaves some with concern over his loyalty to Arsenal and worthiness to wear the captain’s arm band.
Many times, the most skillful players are not qualified to be captain – whether its Vermaelen or anyone else……its irrelevant.
As fans, we should have learned by now to have some patience……..we should extend the same for Cesc. However, everyone’s fuse of patience is of varying lengths. So some will castrate the spanish bastard through their keyboard sooner than others.
WTF – its only an opinion.
The examples you give actually RE-INFORCE what I was saying.
Sneijder was playing a WEAK and unbalanced midfield — he played poorly.
When he moved to Inter and was the apex of a balanced midfield with TWO defensively sound mids behind him … he FLOURISHED.
Kaka was a god in a defensively sound and BALANCED AC Milan midfield. Pirlo, Gattuso, Ambrosini had his back. Then he moved to Real … and Real last season had a completely unbalanced midfield. He suffered. (It also didnt help he suffered all sorts of injuries).
Deco is the odd one out … he just did not fit in the Premiership. Fabregas is the ONLY “passing” AM I know that can survive the brutal Premiership. Even at that Deco played extremely well in his first 2 months before the tough tackles started coming in and he got injured for a bit.
At Porto, he excelled. At Barca he struggled in an unbalanced team UNTIL Barca bought Davids on loan. Davids balanced him perfectly and he immediately exploded and helped Barca snatch back the league.
Andez can speak for himself.
I respect a player like Cesc – not physically gifted except in IQ and skill. There should be a place for this type of player in every sport.
Last season, he started to play like a 26 yr old. Physically taking on his opponents, AND MAKING THINGS HAPPEN – outside his passing game. 15 goals and 19 assists – and these totals reflect his missing abt 10 weeks due to injury.
But last summer made ‘everyone’ (including his teammates) rethink his loyalty.
No real Arsenal fan should want to see this player move on. But we need a Cesc that bleeds red…..and his play this season is casting doubts. The issues on the pitch have nothing to do with his fitness or an injury…….its mental errors.
If you look at the surrounding players last season, when he excelled, and then examine players that line up with him this season and their play to date; HIS SUPPORT IS (imo) AN UPGRADE.
Even when Flamini played at DM – Flamini took his opportunities and liberally attacked. Last season we saw Vermaelen carry the ball forward many times. If the manager has confidence in your contribution – you get the green light.
Tactically, no defense wants to be faced with an extra opponent bringing the ball at them and finding themselves in a quandary on who to mark. I agree there have been times when Song is out of position…….but this is more of an issue with his teammates not repositioning themselves to offset his forward movement.
Frankly, I don’t care what our line up evolves to, as long as it becomes more productive in closing teams out……or executing better.
Whether we want to discuss it or not, there is a chance that the team could play collectively better without relying on Cesc.
Our team especially midfield is NOT an upgrade on last season.
Again, you note Fabregas was very good last season. A season in which Song actually did HIS JOB. Flamini went forward but not ANYWHERE close to what we are seeing in Song. Not even close.
It is “someone” elses fault they do not cover their indisciplined DM roaming around like an idiot?? So that AMs are stuck doing a job they are not really good at so that a spoilt DM can glory hunt as an AM? Unbelievable really what people think.
I would love to hear of just ONE successful team with the model of a roaming DM. Even Barca that we ape have DEDICATED DMs in Spain.
Wenger’s non belief in DMs is just as moronic as his previous non-belief in heading (not pure)! LOL! How did that turn out?
Either way, Cesc will leave either this summer or in the next then we’ll see if Denilson and co. can fill the AM void ;-)
Maybe Song can become the AM and Denilson the DM :-D
We’re talking about a world class player that is making mental and technical mistakes not related to fitness or injury.
There’s nothing wrong with defending your player. I just won’t buy into your argument when you make excuses for him and then divert the blame for his below expectation performances on the shoulders of his teammates.
By the way, Andez has been criticizing Cesc for over two years now.
What an opportunity to win something.
If we don’t put this to bed….
I’m a little worried about Wenger and his misplaced snobbery over this cup (…and now the FA cup). He’s out of sync with fans and reality imho.
I think he’s so far into his view of the football universe that he may take a perverse pleasure in jettisoning this incredible opportunity. Extreme statement I know, but he really does present as having become insular and indignant – a terrifying combination.
Football for fans is about ocassions and glory and moments of sublime skill and determination and expectation and achievement. It’s NOT about coming 4th in the league. Never has been never will be. 4th is a necessary requirement for a major power – not an achievement in itself. Wenger seems to have let this reality go off radar.
Come on Arsenal, win this cup and give us something to celebrate.
Playing Diaby instead of Arshavin in the 2009 FA Cup semi final springs to mind.
Wow, and it gets EASIER! The organizers must have colluded to give us the weakest possible team an already weak bunch. And to give us the second leg at home just to make sure.
This is the most ridiculous gimme ever. Play the same team as against Wigan in the semis. Then use the first team, but with Gibbs and Szczesny in the final.
No excuses possible.
Keane will try to kick Arsenal off the pitch as he has said we have a soft underside. Our physical mettle will definitely be tested by the self ordained Anti-Christ.
Great draw for the semis.
Love to get W. Ham in the final – to avenge that FA Cup defeat of 30 years ago.
Or leg-breaking B’ham City. Either way, I’ll take it. Silverware is silverware after the drought we’re in.
Plus I’m no Carling Cup snob. The first time I saw Arsenal win a cup in the flesh was the then LIttlewoods Cup in 1987 – beating Liverpool, 2-1 – Charlie Nicholas with the agonizingly slow winner over the goalline. (Set up by Perry Groves with his one and only sublime piece of skill — other than his memoirs.)
That cup came after a 18-year silverware drought, lest we forget. Five years is nothing, you spoiled brats!
We won the FA cup in ’79 so it was actually an 8 year drought.
Final 4 is:
Birmingham
Ipswich
West Ham
and ARSENAL.
If we don’t win the Carling Cup…
(fill in the blank) ?:-)
This time there can’t be any excuses to prevent that blank from being filled. Because there were excuses in previous semi exits to Wigan & Spurs not to mention a final loss. As mentioned by Mazza, this team won’t make it easy but that is to expected.
At first glance the Carling Cup should be ours.
However I certainly wouldn’t be surprised if we’re shanking clearances out for corners in the dying embers of the second leg of the semi-finals, protecting a one goal lead.
You know we won’t make it easy for ourselves and even thinking it will be is a disservice to the other sides. Every single team left in the comp has gone life and death with us in the league so let’s hope all our players’ best friend – Mr Complacency – doesn’t pop along for the ride.
Oh, I am CERTAIN the semis would be a nail-biter.
But one thing I am hoping will help us out is the fact that its a two-legged affair.
Surely, Wenger cant fuck this up.
We dont have to do any thing special, just concentrate, steady and run down the home-stretch.
Wenger can definitely play a lesser team in the Semi-Finals… that would be a mistake.
It’s a 2-leg tie, so he needs to let our best team play.
Wenger may not fuck it up, but with our inconsistent form the players could.
Oh, no, its ALL Wenger.
He picks the squad, the tactics, the fitness, the formation and he does the team talks and is in charge of motivation.
It is 200% Wenger.
ABSOLUTELY NO HIDING!
its pretty simple, if Wenger plays a mediocre team… with half the players from the reserves, and we lose… its ALL on him.
If he starts our A-team, and they blow it, its on the players.
100% have to go for this trophy.
Its 3 extra games… and we apparently have such a big wonderful and improving squad, so 3 extra matches is nothing.
ball is in Wenger’s court…
An extremely important result.
You all know what I have thought of the CC for the last few years… WE NEED IT!!!
And now there is absolutely NO excuse for Wenger or the players to fuck up this straightforward path to a silverware.
We should start this team but with Nasri, Fabregas, Arshavin, Sagna in the semis and final – no matter who we face.
Theo needs to go out on loan (for at least a full season), at a club where he’ll start. A club that will pass the ball around, not just launch balls up field. Theo is too one dimensional and predictable in play
and he’s not playing enough matches at Arsenal to develop.
Our attacks down the left flank showed some nice combination play but I saw nothing evolve down the right flank. Eboue + Theo, there was no linking play.
Our CB’s and Gibbs had good performances. Eboue’s play to date, he is not mentally into this season.
Denilson, lacking the physical attributes for a DM in the PL…….gave us hustle and stability in front of the back 4……made a terrific cross from the right flank, to I believe Vela, who just headed wide.
I was hoping that RvP would have some chances on target…..his passing touch hasn’t left him. Both he and Bendtner were rusty and the playing time will help progress their contribution as we go forward.
There certainly weren’t many highlights from this match, but the fact that ManU lost has put a smile on my face. American Jonathan Spector scored a brace for West Ham, their 1st two goals and these are the only goals he has scored in the PL – in almost 100 appearances. I believe Jonathan played in the DM role as Scott Parker was rested.
From the glory of winning 7 – 1 against a hapless effort Blackburn……now they suffer their 1st loss of the season that knocks them out of CC against the bottom feeder club in the league. Some may argue that United had a makeover line up like Arsenal – SO WHAT, I will still gloat with the outcome.
Someone earlier posted, they were hoping we wouldn’t have to play them twice in the semi’s…..well, you got your wish!!!! Hey, we all got our wish!!!! Thank you West Ham for the early holiday gift……
Man, even our gloating is lame.
After all, how could United supporters possibly respond to the humiliation of being dumped from the fourth most prestigious cup?
Which Arsenal fans hope creates an easier path for us by removing United from our possible competition?
For the cup Wenger has consistently shown no regard for?
In the hopes it becomes the first thing we win in six years?
Yes. In your face, United.
Theo was in GREAT form, scoring great goals before he got injured.
He is certainly NOT going anywhere on loan.
Eboue needs games… and playing time.
He’s not playing much, so should he go out on loan as well?
If Wenger throws this Cup away this year, he should be FIRED.
Arsenal keep clean sheet shocker.
Vela gets his chance to shine — and blows a slew of chances. Still, nice cross for the Bendtner goal.
And Manure out the cup. This is ours for the taking.
Arsenal almost there but they have that dreaded 2-0 lead now :)
On the other hand, West Ham are shafting Man Utd 4-0, albeit a different Man Utd team but still, remarkable to see that score-line.
If Arsenal can truly hang on, they would have a real chance this year in the Carling Cup with Man Utd out of the way.
Come on Arsenal…the worthless cup is not worthless anymore :)
This potential starting squad brings into focus a glaring need. When Song is not in the lineup we don’t have a true DM. I actually rate Nordveit over Eastmond in that position but Arsene seems to have turned him into a RB although his earlier credentials were at CB and DM.
A MF of Eastmond, Denilson and Rosicky is troubling and we could be overan in that area. Rosicky may not start since he played almost a full game on Saturday, so hopefully we will see Nasri, Wilshire and Denilson.
If Theo and RVP can get into stride we should win this one, but who the hell knows which of their alter egos will show up.
sneezy should definitely start. as for defense, i don’t think djourou played against spurs. tonight, he may play alongside koscielny. that’s two young guys at cb with potentially two young guys at fullback, one young dm and a young keeper. we’ll see if that’s how it plays out. regardless, squillaci needs a breather. i think he’s played every game since vermaelen’s gone down with injury. thank goodness, wenger signed him.
i’m not a big bendtner fan. i think he’s a good player but just not suited for arsenal. about three years ago, i suggested he would be better served playing in a top bundesliga team like werder bremen or fc bayern. he’s being linked with bayern for the second time so we’ll see where that goes. he was poor against braga but that was one game. if he can stay in sync with the rest of the team, he should do fine against wigan.
agree about eboue. if he’s not running at people, he’s useless. his game doesn’t bring anything else to arsenal. however, i disagree that he was feigning injury. the replay shows he suffered a bad tackle. knees don’t just swell for nothing. we’ll see how he does.
i watch wigan because i really like henry thomas. when i played in midfield, i tried to play like vieira but i came off playing more like henry thomas instead. i didn’t get as many yellow cards as him but i didn’t play in the premier league either. understand, i’m not trying to compare myself to an experienced international. offensively, we’re different but his defensive approach to closing players down and winning the ball is very similar to my own. hopefully, he doesn’t win too many balls tonight.
wigan will do well to not get embarassed tonight. braga played us tough and conned the referee alot but spurs were lucky to get their result. don’t know if tomas will start two in a row in three days. we’ll see.
Starting XI: Szczęsny; Eboué, Koscielny, Djourou, Gibbs; Walcott, Denilson, Wilshere, Vela; van Persie, Bendtner
Looks like a 4-4-2 with Walcott on the right and Vela on the left.
just missed the line up. it does look like a 4-4-2. good for ‘los to get a run out tonight. i hope that boy can realize his potential here at arsenal.
any idea what channel or site the game will be on?
Subs: Sagna, Nasri, Arshavin, Eastmond, Emmanuel-Thomas, Nordtveit, Shea (GK)
Notice who doesn’t make the squad even though he is just back to “health”? Almunia not in the squad while Shea gets the nod as back up
Don’t know how I missed this:
News of the World (so take it for what it’s worth) says that Pat Rice is set to retire at the end of this season.
Wow.
Does that mean we see a Bergkamp in the horizon?
I hope Wilshere starts … he has just had a two week suspension induced rest, so there is no reason for him to be tired.
Besides, it would just be ridiculous for an 18 year old to be too “big” to play Carling Cup.
Also, I hope Chamakh, Arshavin and Nasri are on the bench as well.
Barcelona say hello.
5-0.
Going to win the league.
Last time I checked no one wins the league in November.
Does your comment imply you are accepting my bet offer? I have paypal.
I put my money where my mouth is … do you?
if you want to DONATE whatever we wager to charity, or the loser buys T-shirts for everyone on the site…
you are on!
(can be the charity of your choice)
I have Barcelona winning a trophy, and you have them NOT winning anything.
Correct?
They won the league yesterday.
;)
Salvation Army.
DAG would be the judge?
How much can you go?
OK.
what is to judge?
If Barcelona win their league, CL or Kings Cup, a trophy… I win.
If they don’t, you win.
I would go $100, or even $200, its charity.
My charity will be the Elias Fund.
(charity for Zimbabwean students)
$200. No Kings Cup or its not an even money bet. I can do non-even bet but we verify from a Euro bookies website.
—————
Judge as in neutral arbiter who collects the money now then disburses in May.
Do we give the cash now or do you want to wait till May?
OK.
They’re going to win the league.
Kings Cup is out.
even if its a minnow trophy, that their B-squad will win!
$200.
No need to give the cash now… I’ll let it collect interest!
DAG can be the neutral arbiter.
you are on!
The Carling Cup is our only realistic chance for silverware so we better take it seriously. Win it in February and suddenly we have something to build on for the rest of the season. Lose it and we go six years without squat.
If Eboue plays today, does that mean he was FAKING his injury last week?
He has been known to roll around embarrassingly with minimal or no contact, so I wont put it beyond him to act injured (and get stretchered off).
According to what I have been able to find – his knee was severely swollen post incident and the medical staff at Villa said it was likely an MCL sprain. When he got back to London for a scan the swelling was down and the scan showed no ligament damage.
Wigan’s problem is scoring. Their manager, Martinez, was a featured ESPN pundit during the WC, and listening to him discuss philosophy and team styles, he was refreshing.
The league needs more managers that want to play attractive soccer, like Martinez, while my choices to fall on the sword of relegation are: Allardyce, Pulis, and McCarthy.
I agree with your overall impressions.
I’m not at the point to throw the towel in on Bendtner. After a long hamstring layoff during last season, he returned to give Arsenal a needed boost in goal scoring. Lest we not forget the goal he scored against Barca.
At 22 or 23 he still has formidable years of growth ahead of him. He does not have foot speed, but he is always in the right place at the right moment. With his size, height, and IQ, he is a natural fit for the club’s midfield talent.
I can’t see a line up containing all of: Nordtveit, Gibbs, Eastmond, Szczesny. Too much inexperience and a match we need to close out early!
I agree with your remarks about Eboue, this season has been a step back for him……but he is higher on Arsene’s pecking order and likely to get the start.
I’m not sure of a midfield of Denilson and Eastmond are strong enough to support Tomas and the front line.
I thought Martinez was excellent on the WC coverage, as well. Really impressed with both his smarts and how he conveyed them.