The Carling Cup or If Arsene Can Give A Damn So Can I.

So here it is Wednesday and as many of you know I could care less about the Carling Cup. Sure it’s silverware, something we don’t have a lot of in the recent year but  I always figured if Arsene didn’t take it seriously why should I waste the time to write something about it.

Then this season came.

Like our first Carling Cup round at White Heart Lane (a fine thrashing of those noisy cross town neighbours), Arsene Wenger is set to field another strong squad to go into tonight’s match versus Newcastle at St. James Park.   Like Spurs, the Geordies will face an Arsenal squad that will feature a fair mix of youngsters and first teamers which goes to show the new found serious interest in the league cup. Use of senior team players along with reserves only goes to show that even Arsene is cognizant of the lack of the silverware and the mounting pressure associated with it. In a recent interview with Arsenal TV Online he said:

“I can understand that people want more and we want to give them more. You can only show attitude, commitment and we have talent, so let’s go step by step and try and win the game tomorrow and keep that urgency and that attitude until the end of the season. I repeat: we will play with a good team [at Newcastle] and we do our best, and that’s all we can do.”

Some of the first team stars likely to feature are, Theo Walcottwho  is set for his first start since rolling his ankle whilst on duty for England some months back. Joing Theo will be  Nicklas Bendtner, the self reported “best striker” on the planet. Let’s just hope the Dane brings the boots he scored with on Sunday and his normal first touch antics don’t suddenly reappear.

As for ‘keeper Arsenal fans look set to see the future, as Woijicech Szczesny is set to make only his 2nd first team start. He’s been very vocal about getting his opportunity to play and with an “injury” to Almunia, Mannone out on loan and Fabianksi doing his best David Seaman imitation, the pole gets the nod. A solid performance from him will likely insure the goal keeping status quo continues for the foreseeable future.

The Magpies themselves seem intent on a serious cup run of their own. Sure, they are focused on staying up in the EPL, but there is a train of thought that a successful League Cup run could actually help in the mentality around that club.

Newcastle has played Arsenal 165 times in each of the club’s histories. For Newcastle that is more than any other opponent they’ve face. Too bad they’ve only won against Arsenal 65 times. The home side haven’t beaten an Arsenal team in a cup tie since their 1-0 FA Cup final win against the Gunners. The task for the magpies is rough as in the last 7 seven meetings Arsenal are unbeaten and haven’t conceded a goal in the last 4 cup ties against each other.

For the home side, Sol Campbell looks to get a run out featuring in only his second start since signing a contract with Newcastle. I am not sure this is what he had in mind when he decided to join the lads in St. James Park versus the friendly confines of the Emirates.

Arsenal should be wary because this side dispatched an equally strong Chelsea side in the last round.

Regardless, it should be an enteraining match to watch – especially since we seem to be going for it.

My Arsenal side for this match up is:

Szczesny, Djourou, Koscielny, Eboue, Gibbs, Denilson, Diaby, Rosicky, Bendtner, Vela, Walcott

My prediction: 3-0 to the Arsenal