Morning all.
Arsenal take on West Ham tonight in the League Cup and yesterday, Mikel Arteta delivered an honest press conference. He admitted to bringing Gabriel Jesus back too soon after his previous injury and this time, there’ll be no repeat. In turn, this is likely to mean an extended run for Eddie Nketiah in the team. Whether he starts tonight or not is something the Spaniard wouldn’t confirm but he’ll definitely be involved. As will Declan Rice who for the first time since moving across London 8n the summer, returns to his old club. I’m sure it’ll be strange for him, especially as he heads to the away dressing room but I hope the West Ham give him the warm welcome he most certainly deserves.
Martin Odegaard is another who could miss out tonight:
We rested him the other day, so it’s how long we rest him for and how we manage him now with the minutes and the rhythm that he needs as well to be at his best. So, yeah, we had the opportunity to do it and we didn’t use him at the end, that was a good upload for him.
It’s not only that (injury), but there’s also a lot of things that you have to do. It’s impossible to play with no niggles in football, and at this level, when you have games every three days, it’s impossible. If you try to do that, you better stay in bed, because I don’t know any players who are constantly perfect and to be in the best possible condition, so you have to adapt to that.
I’ve always thought the League Cup isn’t and shouldn’t be a priority or even veryimportant, but I’ve been wrong. A priority in terms of our seasons aims, perhaps not, but it’s certainly important because without it being important, what message would/does it send to the players who play in it? “You’re only good enough to play in a competition we don’t care about” – that’s the message I think I’d hear if I were them. Regardless of it being considered a tin pot competition by so many fans in the game, me included, there’s a trophy at the end of it and a place in European football to go with it. Yes, it’s likely that Mikel Arteta will rotate his players a little but whoever he plays, they are part of a group needed for ten months of a season, any of whom could into Premier League action at any time.
Mikel Arteta on the importance of the Carabao Cup and if it matters to him:
Yes, I live it exactly the same as a Premier League game. I have the same feeling in my tummy, the same uncertainty and the same way to prepare and I’m going to be there closer to the game. I just want to win the game, for sure.
If he thinks winning the Carabao Cup could be a stepping stone to bigger prizes:
I do. Even if you are doing rotation, the role of the players that are committed to challenging for this trophy or this game, I think it’s critical for them to show what they can do when they are really important and given the chance. When they are in or out, how are you going to approach the game and are you going to win the game for the team?
Pep Guardiola has always taken the League Cup seriously and has many a cup to justify his reasons why. So yes, if Arsenal can go all the way in this Cup, then perhaps we should celebrate it rather than like me, mock it.
West Ham will be tough to beat though. Really tough. They’ve been good in the league this season, better without Declan Rice I’ve read on more than one occasion but just recently, their results have stuttered a bit, winning just one of their last five fixtures. They scraped past Lincoln City in the last round of the League Cup and just a few days ago, we’re beaten at home by Everton.
Against Lincoln City, Moyes made ten changes to the side which had played the weekend before but whether he’s so bold tonight I don’t know. I doubt it though, not against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal. Moyes will no doubt be wanting to get one over two of his old players, one of whom now is a fellow manager of course. One he’ll want to beat.
Catch up in the comments..
Adrian Clarke:
There should be very few tactical surprises from the east Londoners in this clash. They will be well-organised and resilient at the back, with their talented forward players capable of producing game-changing moments.
Moyes will set up in a compact 4-2-3-1 that is designed to be robust enough to frustrate us, before they break quickly on counter-attacks. They have scored three times from fast breaks in 10 league matches, so this aspect of their game must be respected, with speedy winger Jarrod Bowen the most obvious danger man from those breakaways.
Arteta will be confident we can create a host of quality opportunities though. Bottom side Sheffield United are the only team to have faced fewer shots than West Ham (121) from open play, who have leaked 1.7 goals per game in the league, and registered just two clean sheets from 14 matches in all competitions – against Lincoln and the struggling Blades. We will probably dominate possession, as West Ham have averaged just a 41 per cent share of the ball this season.
Set pieces are always a cause for concern when you face a Moyes team, and the arrival of summer signing James Ward-Prowse has increased their potential from those situations. No individual has created more chances from dead balls than him (16) and as a consequence, the team’s XG from set plays is the second-highest in the division.
Morning Rico and all,
It’s good to hear Arteta Amit to bringing a player back to soon, as for today’s Mickey Mouse match I hope he rest our top players as we need them for more important matches.
Morning Geoff, yes. Ballsy, probably why Partey is being kept out now. We need him fully fit.
Set pieces have been a problem for us in the past and even now I still hold my breath when we have to defend it.
it’s a good time to bring Ramsdale back, even if it is to keep him match awareness
G’day Rico and all.
If Odegaard is “rested” it opens the way for ESR to get more minutes and gain a bit more match fitness.
I would expect to see White, Saliba, Kiwior and Tomiyasu start, Rice, Havertz, ESR in midfield and a front three of Martinelli, Nketiah and Nelson. We will also have a goalkeeper, but who that will be is anyone’s guess 😕
I think Ramsdale will play tonight.
Afternoon Cicero. Throw in Jorginho and/or Elneny I reckon.
Jeorge Bird
Ethan Nwaneri was amongst the Arsenal youngsters to train with the first-team today ahead of the Carabao Cup game away to West Ham United.
The 16-year-old midfielder has been missing through injury but is now back in training.
Myles Lewis-Skelly, Bradley Ibrahim, Reuell Walters, Amario Cozier-Duberry, Khayon Edwards and Jimi Gower also trained with the first-team along with 17-year-old defender Ayden Heaven.
Sadly I think it will be Raya again, because I believe Arteta is ‘freezing’ Ramsdale out, following in the Pep playbook when he ,froze’ Hart out. Arteta can do that because his mentor showed him the way!
Hope I’m wrong though.
That would be a travesty if you’re right Wavy. I actually don’t understand what he’s done wrong.
Me too neither!
Apart from his Dad being perhaps a little too outspoken I don’t think young Aron has put many feet wrong. What Arteta’s gripe with him is, remains a mystery. Will all be revealed? I doubt it! Perhaps it’s a clash of personality’s?
I did wonder that too, can’t be for his performances because he’s been really good for us I think. I’m still not convinced by Raya, especially his height 😂
Despite my earlier confusion, I think we will see Ramsdale between the posts this evening, Raya has had a few games to get over the jitters he suffered earlier and can be rested without knocking his confidence. The longer Ramsdale it kept on the bench the more likely it is that he will be looking for a way out in the summer if not in January. We can I’ll afford to lose a very good, young England international ‘keeper if Arteta is to stick to his “two players for every position” stance.
Can’t see Ramsdale going myself, it’d be a waste of money to buy another keeper if that’s the route we take. We’d still need to pay Brentford for Raya.
Arsenal team news – Ramsdale starts, Rice on bench
Team to play West Ham: Ramsdale, White, Kiwior, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Havertz, Vieira, Nelson, Trossard, Nketiah.
Subs: Hein, Cedric, Tomiyasu, Saliba, Rice, Elneny, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli.
Rotten start..
Glad I got it wrong. Not a good start though. Better football from arsenal and a tidy finish from White, shame it was the wrong end!
Ridiculous that there’s no VAR.
nicely missed shirt pull , with VAR it was ruled out .Or should have been .
But I bet Ramsdale gets battered for conceding..
Oops, looks like we might be heading out.
We are now I’m sure. 3-0.
So we bring on our two potential dangeious players but leave Havertz and Vieira o n so effectively still have no creation and Eddie up top chasing shadows .
3 nil down , why risk the injuries
too weak fir too long
Odegaard coming on was odd, Rice too really…
Lackadaisical. Lacklustre. Lacking purpose. Lacking energy. Lacking any will to win. Lacking even the will to get a point.
Ramsdale will get slaughtered, despite the following facts: 1) the first goal should have been disallowed for the shirt tug. 2) the second goal Zinchenko totally lost concentration as well as the player he should have been marking. 3) the third goal took a wicked deflection. 4) there was no credible movement up front for him to play the long ball.
The only redeeming feature was an excellent, though consolation, goal by Odegaard.
My final comment theArteta Ramsdale situation, if you look at what he said after the game re Ramsdale, “On Aaron Ramsdale’s performance: “Like every player, every players wants to do their best. We haven’t done it and we’re out [of the cup”
My take on that is that he’s in no small part blaming Ramsdale for the loss! One unstoppable own goal, one deflected goal and one goal that I think the goalie was badly positioned for, although he may have been unsighted.
Conclusion, we probably won’t see him between the sticks again unless Raya is injured. We’ll see, obviously but I believe, and for whatever reason Arteta simply doesn’t rate him as a goalkeeper. But the truth will out……..
Arteta “On Aaron Ramsdale’s performance: “Like every player, every players wants to do their best. We haven’t done it and we’re out [of the cup”
We lost and it was the goalie’s fault!
Unless Raya is injured we won’t be seeing Ramsdale between the sticks again. Imo.
Sorry if this appears twice as the first one disappeared into the clouds somewhere.
I’m glad we were knocked out of the mickey mouse cup; we have bigger fish to fry, if teams must play in this cup, then why not hold it during the preseason to help fresh players adjust to their new manager and team mates not during the main season,
New post up.