Morning all.
Arsenal are back in action again tonight against Brentford in the EFL Cup.
Mikel Arteta talked about injuries during his press conference, about scoring goals being a difficult thing to do but, with the number of opportunities we’ve created, he believes we should have scored more. I think most of us would agree with Arteta there but until we sign a proper, or rather, clinical striker, I think we’ll often be bemoaning missed opportunities.
Who makes the squad remains to be seen as a number of players are out injured. Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli, as well as Thomas Partey and Jurrien Timber. By the sounds of it, none are likely to feature against Bournemouth either.
Does the Carabao Cup present a chance to rotate:
Well there are a lot of players that need minutes, that’s for sure. You can go through the squad and some players haven’t played that many minutes and tomorrow they’re going to have exposure for sure.
Will young players be involved:
It can include that, yes.
With six players missing, Mikel Arteta has no choice but to make more changes than he’d perhaps hoped to. But, how far does he go with those changes? Does anyone really want to see William Saliba, Ben White, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Martin Odegaard or Gabriel Jesus in the starting eleven? I don’t, nor Gabriel but out of him and Saliba, the Brazilian has started fewer games.
Jorginho, Elneny, Cedric, ESR, Nelson, Tomiyasu and Kiwior are the senior options, Vieira and Havertz need minutes, certainly the German who really needs to find some rhythm and form. Honestly, I hope they all play and with them, Ramsdale and one of the academy players. The academy players involved in yesterdays training session were left-back – Lino Sousa, right-back – Reuell Walters, midfielder – Jimi Gower, left winger – Charles Sagoe Jr and right-back – James Sweet. (Reported by Jeorge Bird)
I can remember the days when the League Cup came around, it was our chance to see younger players in an Arsenal shirt. I believe it was in this competition that Cesc Fabregas, Gael Clichy and Jack Wilshere made their senior debuts. Robin van Persie, Denilson, Carlos Vela, Emi Martinez, Fabrice Muamba and Fran Merida too. So many more as well of course, many whom ended up leaving but for a few, a good few, it was the beginning of long Arsenal career.
My perception of Mikel Arteta is that he’s reluctant to play a second string side in this competition but then I looked back on the team which faced Brighton at this stage of the competition.
I was wrong as this time last year, he did field what I would call a second string side, barring a few of course but, Marquinhos was the only player I’d call ‘young’. The bench that night consisted of Xhaka, Jesus, Martinelli, Zinchenko, Gabriel, Odegaard, White and Partey. Not an academy player in sight yet we were beaten 3-1 at The Emirates. 57% possession, 22 shots, 1 goal.
Mikel Arteta will be damned if he rotates heavily, damned if he doesn’t too if we either lose or pick up more injuries to who I’d call ‘first team’ players. It’s the nature of football but I’d rather it’s this cup challenge at risk of us falling in than the Premier League and/or Champions League.
This is a competition which many Arsenal fans, if asked at the beginning of the season, would probably say they don’t care about. I know winning breeds winning etc and beating Brentford would be good for confidence etc etc, and there’s nothing to suggest a second string can’t beat them anyway, but in my mind, Bournemouth, Lens and Man City are the more important out of the next four Arsenal fixtures.
Catch up in the comments.
I don’t think it’s a case of will he rotate the team , I don’t see that he has much choice. Certainly Ramsdale has to start but other than that all the places are up for grabs and conjecture.
We can be sure that Brentford will look at this as an opportunity competition and will be fielding a strong side . They are at home , so why not .? They are not going to win the league , they are not in Europe so it’s this or the F.A Cup to win something.
Ramsdale , Kiwior , Smith-Rowe , Nelson , Jorginho , Vieira , Elneny , Havertz , Tomiyasu , Cedric.all should start providing they are also not carrying knocks
and that leaves one space for either someone from the under 21’s or risking the ones that are likely to be starters in the Bournemouth / City game . I have to say that I feel sorry for those that are attempting to get a start in the big games as they are definitely going out in a second string.
The bench will be interesting.
We’re suggesting the same Potter. Lol
Afternoon Rico and all.
Arteta must start some of the bench players for the Carabao cup, otherwise I see some of them requesting a transfer in January.
Agree with the above line up,guessing what Arteta will do is impossible though !
Out of the first choice line up maybe Ben White – he gets a two week break about 3/4 times a year.Also as Rico says Gabriel hasn’t had as many minutes as others.
Whatever line up it will be a tough game,one we can win though.
COYG
Hi Geoff.
Good point about White Limey and there’s another international break after the City game I think. Wouldn’t mind seeing Tomiyasu at right back though with one of the two young full backs at left back. If Havertz plays, he can get up and down to help him out if needed. In theory anyway. Lol
Good morning Rico and all.
With the injury situation as it is, I think Arteta must make wholesale changes, he must not risk losing anymore of his preferred starting eleven in what is, after all, a Mickey Mouse competition.
I’m one of those who see no point in The Carabao Cup as far as Arsenal are concerned.
Cicero totally agree about today’s match (Mickey Mouse) no offence to the opposition team, but that’s why we need to start a lot of the bench players like ESR after all if they can’t get a start in this game then they’re is no point in staying at Arsenal and would be better off in January looking elsewhere in the hope of getting more game time.
Hi Cicero, ditto. We all love a cup, just not this one. Lol
Arsenal: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, Gabriel, White, Kiwior, Jorginho, Havertz, Smith Rowe, Nelson, Sagoe Jr, Nketiah.
Subs: Hein, Odegaard, Jesus, Cedric, Elneny, Zinchenko, Cozier-Duberry, Sweet, Walters.
Sagoe jnr adds a bit of interest
Nice to see Nelson on the scoreboard
We live to fight another day… lol
No idea what the game was like, a goal for Nelson and a clean sheet, a couple of bookings but no other dramas.
One step closer to the quadruple. 😉
Good night one and all. 😴
Very happy with that starting lineup, then a win not a bad day, did any watch it and how did Sagoe jnr look
Sagoe jnr was competent , could develop well . White’s booking for a long time throwing in is something that we have to look into.
West Ham away in the next round.
Time wasting Potter? Otherwise known as game management.
Morning
New post up.
Just watched the highlights on Arsenal.com, a whole two minutes, Nelson’s goal, ESR’s attempt, a long range shot from Elneny and a save by Ramsdale and that was it.
Here’s a laugh, Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson’s goal against Brighton last night has won him his club’s Goal of the Month award for September. No surprise really I suppose as it was the only goal scored by Chelsea in the month. 😀