Morning guys.
Congratulations to Harry Kane, one of England’s finest strikers to play the game after he won the Ballon d’Or last night. How good is it that the only way he could nab a goal against us last week was from the penalty spot? Seriously though, since moving to Bayern he’s had a new lease of life and he’s been better for England too. I wonder if he wishes he’d moved to a big club much sooner in his career than he did….
Bukayo Saka picked up an award too for his humanitarian work. Bukayo and his family have worked with multiple charities, including long-term projects with Big Shoe, providing medical care and humanitarian aid for children and families in need in London and around the world.
I cannot believe Arsenal were overlooked for the team award but unsurprised. The richest club in France stole that from us.
The League Cup returns tonight for The Arsenal, a tricky fixture against Fleetwood Town who currently sit in 18th place in League Two but when a domestic cup comes around, we know league form means very little. Fleetwood would love to beat the reigning Premier League champions and their 5,350 capacity Highbury Stadium will be right behind them. Their average gate attendance is just over 3,000 but not tonight I’m sure.
Fleetwood do have a couple of Premier League players in their squad, Aaron Loupalo-Bi and Josh Robertson, both are 20 years old and on loan from Fulham and Brighton respectively.
Mikel Arteta on what’s at stake tonight:
Our reputation, our pride, everything is in play. So every time you play a football match, and especially against a team in a different division, respect the game, respect every opponent because they deserve to do that, and then try to win and try to play a bit better than them.
We all have one [upset] at some stage. We know the risk, and in football, things can get very equal the moment you are able to match certain things, and that’s why our basics and habits have to be through the roof to be able to win the game.
Matches like this are hard to judge I always think. I’m sure we’d all love to see a lot of changes tonight, I know I’d like to see a few under 21 players start but it’s easy from the sidelines. The worst outcome tonight would be being knocked out of this competition if for no other reason than the negativity it would bring with it. It could happen regardless of who Mikel Arteta selects of course because that’s what cup matches do, spring surprises, especially if there is any kind of hint of complacency. Arsenal have to earn the right to win this game and I fully expect it to be a tough and physical battle up north.
I think fitness will play a huge part, as will the pitch and conditions but at least the wind and rain seems to have abated for today. An open and windy stadium would be a nightmare for both sides although I’m sure Fleetwood would be more comfortable playing in such conditions than Arsenal.
Fleetwood manager Matt Lawlor:
The champions are coming to town and they’re coming to our patch. The players need to be excited by it, not overawed by it. The respect is through the roof, but the fear can’t be through the roof. We’ve earned a game like this. We’ve had to go through round upon round of tough games, and none of them were easy. To get to where we are, we deserve that.
This is the first time in Fleetwood’s history to still be in the competition at this stage.
Talking Tactics by Arsenal’s Adrian Clarke:
Under Matt Lawlor, Fleetwood Town like to play in a 3-1-4-2 formation, so it will be fascinating to see if they are brave enough to start with two centre forwards against us. If they do opt for a little more pragmatism, that shape could easily morph into a 5-4-1 without causing major disruption.
Lawlor has another tactical quandary ahead of this cup tie, and that’s over how much he wants to urge his players to press us. In League Two they are the best ‘pressing outfit’, producing the most press sequences, and second highest number of high turnovers. If they play their natural game, it could help them earn opportunities to score, but if we play through them the rearguard may become very exposed.
Fleetwood Town are a strong set piece side, netting six league goals already from those situations. In general, the Fylde Coast minnows are at their best when delivering crosses into the danger zone. They rank second in their division for quantity of open play crosses. With goalscorers Ronan Coughlan and Ched Evans attacking those balls, they do present a threat from those situations.
In terms of individuals, keep your eye on buccaneering right wing back Lewis McCann. The Scot is an aggressive ball winner, who likes to power forward and whip crosses into the box. Fleetwood’s most creative player is midfielder Mark Helm. He’s laid on 23 chances, 22 from open play, which is 10 more than anyone else in the squad.
I’m hoping to see Marli Salmon and James Scanlon get a start today with the likes of Piero Hincapie, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, Cristhian Mosquera, Illan Meslier, Max Dowman in the lineup too. Ebe Eze in his more familiar role in midfield perhaps with Myles Lewis-Skelly. But like I said, it’s easy from the sidelines. Rumour has it that Christos Tzolis could be in the squad which is good news if true. Perhaps he’ll get a runout late in the game along with one or two younger players.
Catch up in the comments.
I was thinking Salmon at right back with an experienced CB alongside Mosquera.
O’Neill has been hovering around the edges of the senior squad this season, he’s often involved in training with the 1st team and has been on the bench a few times so it wouldn’t surprise me to see him earn his debut this evening. Harriman-Annous has to be in and around the squad, tall, pacey but not great in the finishing dept all the same he’s played a lot in the U21’s on the wings where his pace is an asset.
Starting Mosquera and Salmon as a centre back pairing carries a few risks, not least the fact that both have never played as a centre back pairing, I mean they could be brilliant but it would be a risk. Rotation during the game is probably the way to go.
Hi Geoff, his choice to stay at a club which wasn’t doing particularly well during his time.
Imo, Raya deserved the keeper award but we know this award is seldom given to PL club players, otherwise Henry would have won it.
Afternoon Rico and all, it’s a shame that an English player had to go overseas to play so he could be recognized enough to win the ballon d’or,
Jeorge Bird:
Andre Harriman-Annous and Ceadach O’Neill both played a full part in training with the Arsenal first-team ahead of tomorrow’s Caraabo Cup tie against Fleetwood Town.
The likes of Marcell Washington, Theo Julienne, Igor Tyjon and Ife Ibrahim were also involved in the session.
Arsenal U21s are also in action tomorrow night as they play AFC Wimbledon in their final EFL Trophy group game.
However, some youngsters could be involved at Fleetwood’s Highbury ground as Arsenal look to make it through to the fifth round of the Carabao Cup.
No mention of Scanlon. Shame.