Morning all.
The Capital One Cup is back tonight which means it’s time to rest most of the first team and introduce a few young faces together with a few old pros. I love nights like tonight, especially when the boys are on television as it’s a great chance for us all to see who’s fighting for a place in the first team squad, or even better, a first team place!
For far too many years now, no-one has really pushed through from the Academy and although there’s a few who have been bought and paid for in the reserve/under 21 side, a few look like they might finally have what it takes to make the step up quite soon. During pre-season, Jeff Reine-Adelaide looked really good, Alex Iwobi too.
I have to be honest here, as I was looking at the photographs of the players training ahead of tonight’s match, I was left scratching my head as to who they are. Ok, I feel ashamed… 😉
My cause was far from helped by the players not wearing the same numbers on their training kit as they do when playing but, thanks to Jeorge Bird, I now know who they are:-
Alex Iwobi, Donyell Malen, Ben Sheaf, Marcus Agyei-Tabi, Ismael Bennacer, Reiss Nelson, Joshua Dasilva, Savvas Mourgos, Matt Macey, Glen Kamara, Marc Bola, Julio Pleguezuelo and Krystian Bielik.
A few of the big boys were in training too, Mertesacker, Debuchy, Chambers, Gibbs, Cech, Flamini, Walcott, Campbell and Gibbs. Ospina is injured so misses out. The manager has confirmed he’ll start with Cech with 21 year old Matt Macey keeping his place on the bench.
Wednesday are expected to ring the changes too, some rotation, others forced through injury. Keiren Westwood, the Championship’s best goalkeeper so far this season, will be rested and his place will be taken by 19-year-old Joe Wildsmith.
Carlos Carvalhal believes tonight will be tough for his side:
We have only a 10 per cent chance, that’s the reality. It is not zero. We will grab this 10 per cent and try to do our best.
The stadium will be full again, the excitement of the fans is back again, the confidence of the club is higher. We are in football to live these moments and create these environments where people can leave behind reality and dream.
Arsene Wenger:
We want the players who come in to the team to show they are able to make the squad successful, and do absolutely everything to help us win. That’s the job of a footballer.
When you get the chance, you have to be ready.
Mathieu Flamini certainly was in our last match in this competition, as his double strike was enough to knock-out Tottenham but tonight he’ll be the only experienced defensive midfielder in the team so he can’t forget his duties.
Joel Campbell, a huge talent, but a player who is yet to prove he’s ready for the first team in the managers eyes, needs a big game. We all know he’ll give his all, he’ll not shirk his defensive duties either and with Ramsey out injured and Oxlade-Chamberlain going through a tough time, he should be out to prove he’d be the best option to fill the space. It’ll be interesting to see where he plays tonight.
Chambers and Mertesacker are expected to be the central defensive pairing with Gibbs and Debuchy at left and right-back respectively. Oxlade-Chamberlain is expected to start too but after that eight, nine if Walcott or Giroud start, I’ve no idea which of the younger players will come in.
As Arsene Wenger has said, whoever comes in, have to be ready to take their chance and prove they have what it takes to be part of this great football club for a long time yet. The big boys are on a great run, let’s hope the old boys together with a few younger boys can continue the good form.
Sheffield Wednesday won’t be a roll over, just hope they won’t be another Bradford!
COYRRG’s, go and do yourselves and Arsenal FC proud…
Morning All
Morning Rico, good post…
Ginge, not sure about Hayden?
Rico, where did you hear that he was returning to Arsenal..?
I read that about Hayden Kev, because he’s getting no game time whilst at Mrs Doubtfire’s Hull.
Morning Kev, Lee and all again..
In the Hull Times re Hayden…
Iwobi surely will start after getting 2 against Bayern’s under 19’s. Sheaf and maybe Bielik would seem most likely to have a chance of starting among those you list. I’d really like to see Bielik get a run out given our limited DM options, he’s a big boy and it would be interesting to see how he’d cope.
good morning!
another Portuguese coach….
We must rotate . The players, usually at the bench, must play (chambers, Debuchy,Campbell, etc)
Bielik and Flamini in the midfield perhaps?
Jeff and Iwobi both have a good chance to start imo..
I’m pretty sure JM that not many 1st team players will feature tonight…
JM- you are right about the other Portuguese coach..
He might go with a defensive mindset this evening
Morning rico, good post. This is where we see if AWs decision to send 8 players out on loan is beneficial or not. Personally I would have liked to see Martinez, Akpom, Gnabry etc out there.
At least in defence, we have superb rotational cover and players like Chambers, Giibs and Debuchy urgently need games.
Morning Andrew.. A tough decision re the loans as I guess they can’t stay just in hope of us progressing further in the CO Cup.. Playing time on loan will be more beneficial in the long term…
Ts, at least he hasn’t been on the phone to Mourinho….. 😉
Afternoon Rico, All,
Very good post.
Arsene Wenger said Cech would start but I just don’t see how. Mith Ospina still injured, Macey is the only sub we have…mind you, once you get to the bench, you can be called in at any moment, especially a goalkeeper.
So, what happens in Munich if say Cech has a collision, gets stretchered off and Macey is introduced…what would be going through his mind as he steps in, knowing he wasn’t even good enough against Sheff Wednesday in a COC game?
No, Wenger must have been talking tongue-in-cheek. Macey will be in goal…there’s no better opportunity to prepare the youngster for the unexpected.
Sure, continuing winning runs are forever welcome but I’ve ever rated COC matches as one to give benchers and upcoming prospects game time.
And Rico, Jeff is with the French U-17 in Chile…not available. my regret.
Morning Tai. I think Cech will start, pretty sure AW wasn’t fibbing….
Interesting re Jeff, Jeorge Bird Knows his players better than me so I’m surprised he’s missed that…
I’ve been watching Jeff with the U-17 in Chile —one word for him – awesome.
Lol Rico… lets hope the call hasn’t come from Mauren-ho instead.
Tai, Wenger wouldn’t dare start Macey after the flack for champions league errors. Cech could get injured in training if not playing. I’m sure he will be in goal.
Good Afternoon Rico and All.
Good post. Some of us don’t even know some of the young players or see them play. Hopefully today will give us the opportunity.
Today is an opportunity for Campbell to take the bull by its tongue. I kinda like him but don’t rate him. He is not a game enforcer. Can he makes things happen? We will have to wait and see.
I think we’ll definitely see some young blood, but expect this to be based around an experienced core. We are out to win this game rather than to give the kids a nice day out…up to 3 young ones could start, I hope Iwobi is one of them 🙂
Cech
Debuchy-Mertesacker-Chambers-Gibbs
XXX – Flamini
Campbell – XXX – XXX
Walcott
Afternoon all,
You can always tell a Yorkshireman but you can’t tell him much !
As the Black Eyed Peas might say, I got a feeling tonites gonna be a good nite.
evening all, as roger states @3pm, and with Bielik aside flamini, Oxlade and Iwobi in the midfield with campbell, and walcott on either flank with iwobi as lone striker
Cheers Lee
Cheers Rico
Bellerin didn’t pull up any trees when he was on loan at Watford, so Hayden not playing for Hull doesn’t necessarily mean he’s no good…
Good to have you back Lee…
The ManFlu is a killer mate…
Woman just don’t understand:-)
Good afternoon Lovelies and Hunkies.
Tai is right about Macey….and the CoC and the CL.
I feel it will be Macey in goal.
Hi Coach
I thought that Macey would start this evening, but didn’t Wenger name Cech as starting during yesterday’s presser?
Hi Kev. Kif int???
Yes I agree about AW and Cech. But many times AW has lied and I do not think he will change.
Then again he might be telling the truth.
Imo……I would prefer Macey to be in goal.
It’ll be Cech, I’d bet my last pound… Lol
Evening guys….
Dont bet Rico. It will be Cech in goal according to AW.
But I would like Macey in goal.
Pity Ospina is injured.
I’m really looking forward to seeing Cambell taking a bull by the tongue! There’ll be blood everywhere! And on to too!
Sorry Nash somebody had to say it!
The proper expression is to take the bull by the horns. Same meaning as yours just a bit less gory, hopefully.
Made me smile though quite cheered up a very dull afternoon thanks
I’d be cheesed off if I was AW having read the comments about Gnabry by Pulis!
No way would I risk Macey Devil….
Andrews 1-49 is spot on imo….
Good Afternoon Rico and All.
Wavy. Bull by the horn been so over used and doesn’t draw attention. Bull by the tongue sure caught your attention. 🙂
Macey for me on this one. Give Cech a break because he’s going to need every ounce of energy next week.
Evening Ng. No Macey for me….
Rico. If we have to fight for the title we have to give certain players break. We want you hem fit for the challenges ahead. The FA Cup and the League Title should be our focus. Imho.
Evening Rico and the House.
Rico I think your last two postings have been superb and the comments by the house about the
Portuguese dwarf spot on.
Looking at the form of the younger players I would say that Kamara, Iwobi and Sheaf are the only one’s I would consider for the game tonight.
In the 8 games that Bielik has played this season he has played C/H so why play him M/F tonight
I am not surprised that Hayden and Gnarby are not getting playing time.
, like Afobi said they should have stayed at home worked on their fitness and get some playiny time with the U21’s See you latta
‘We want them fit for’
But as Andrew said Ng, Cech could easily get injured training as he could tonight…
I guess it all depends on how seriously AW wants to win this match and the competition….
Evening Rick, glad you liked the posts….
Didn’t realise Afobe said that….. But they’d certainly be better off back with us….
With Bayern Munich in mind, in a weeks time and how he’s gonna approach that crucial game.
Plus a tough EPL game this weekend, those two games may influence Wengers choice over who leads the attack this evening?
That’s it Swansea (a) this weekend.
Scummers (h) after Munich…
I would start Giroud tonight…
And Giroud at Swansea…
Then…
Start Walcott in Munich…
I wouldn’t start either Kev… Lol
No striker then Rico..?
? Kev.. Campbell perhaps…
Tonights TeamCesch Dubuchy ChambersMerts Gibbs Flamini Kamara Ox Campball Iwobi Giroud.
Kamara and Iwobi the young ones then… Surprised no Bielik….
Subs Macey Gabby Monreal Beilik Bennacer Sheaf Wallcot
About time Debuchy had a stormer!
Seem to have a lot of wide players. Makes a change, we usually inundated with central midfielders 😉
I like that team
Hope that Sheaf gets on
Rick- Good to see kamara get his well over due debut…
he is a DM I rate highly; he reads the ball very well for his age
Again, we sjould focus on what is/are winable. The FA Cup and the League Title should be priorities.
Rico- I know bielik is rated on here but from what i have heard he is not ready imho…
This team so far is good.
Ts, I’d rather watch Bielik before making any judgement but that won’t be tonight sadly…
Hayden starts for Hull, with Akpom on the bench..
Oxlade-Chamberlain, time for him to shine and be the main man…
That’s a surprise Kev..
Why aren’t we playing in red tonight?
Rico, both are cup-tied anyway…
Got to feel for OC…..
Dreadful kit Kev…
Good point re being cup tied, I’d forgotten that..
What happened to Ox???
why was he subbed???
Hamstring
Tight hamstring, just a precaution
Is Walcott playing in the Ox position Rico?
unbelievable!!!!!! Theo subbed as well.
OC and now Theo. What a crap night!!
He is Kev, on the injured list… ???
Evening Rico and the house
The injuries are starting
Back to why did we not sign any one in the summer
Think this is a game for patience and if by chance we get a goal scoring opportunity, take it….. Yawn…. Lol
Why have we played our only 2 forwards in a league cup game
Evening again Rick..
1-0 down then. Not good and unless this lot improve, we are done for….
30 minutes gone…..we have not even taken a pot shot. they take one and score with it.
Hutchinson should have been sent off for that. He did not know what he was doing.
Chickens coming home to roost. Feel sorry for all us fans. Feel contempt for AW. We know we always suffer injuries, EVERY season. So for FS, why are we so short.
comical defending.
that is sub school boy marking.
Bloody hell… No chance now imo…..
It seems that Joao has never been on the loosing side everytime he has scored in his career.
Are we losing?
2-0 Ng..
Awful first half….
They’re not showing our game right now until after the Chelsea game
Rico. Any injuries?
Those that matter, Ox and Theo
Terrible 1st half
Don’t see any game plan
Giroud getting no service
Have to take Giroud off now to protect him. Can’t afford any more injuries
Yes Ng, Theo and OC
No maturity from the experienced players imo
we have 62% possession
we have shot 3 shots on target (SU have 3 as well)
we have shot 3 shots off target (SU have 1)
We have managed twice as much dangerous attacks as SU.
and we are loosing 2-0
Ollie is not getting any decent service. neither from the flanks nor through the middle.
SW Devil.. Lol
Rico. Thank you.
Cech…….Full international. CL winner
Debuchy….Full international
Meresacker…..Full international, WC winner
Chambers…..U21 international
Gibbs…….Full international
Flamini……..An experienced international player
Kamara……Youth
Ox…..Full international
Campbell…..Full international
Ollie……Full international
Iwobi….Youth
Bennacer…….Youth
Theo………Full international
its what is going on in the grey matter between the ears of the experienced players which is wrong.
I have a bit of doubt whether Ox and Theo are injured!!!!!
I bet you all they will play a part next game in the league.
No one picked him up????? LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLl
AW should bring in Macey now. The result is done and dusted. There is nothing more left to play for in this match.
Oh well, out of the CO Cup… Does anyone really care?
Stoke are winning 1-0 against the chavs. Good. hope it stays that way. Another loss for mourinho would deflect the papers away from Arsenal
Bellerin over Debuchy all day long. The latter is a spent force.
Defensive department is all over the sea.
I do care Rico. I wanted us to go all the way in both cups as well. Domestic treble has never been done. I would be proud if Arsenal were to be the first team to do so.
This game simply proves how many players aren’t good enough. And I don’t mean the kids….
Rico i don’t care, but seasoned pros should be ashamed of them self’s
FOR F SAKE TAKE GIROUD OFF. Game is lost.
Not me Devil. Pl and FA cup over this one every day of the week…
Agree Mg…
Debuchy is crap today. Flamini is a has been. Gibbs has gone backwards.
Ollie no service. Cech should not have been there. Chambers is shot on confidence.
Campbell is simply out of his depth.
Agree there too Bob. Subs all done now though…
Hope AW credits SW after this….
today there are two things which are leaving a bad taste……the kit and the performance.
Both stink.
Night guys….
Night Rico
Those Goooners there deserve so much better. Still singing,
Agree on all points HRD
Four players earned their debuts this evening….
Losing Oxlade-Chamberlain and Walcott was a right kick in the crutch with few creative and striking options available…
Expected more from Joel Campbell, he’s experienced and an international with WC games behind him…
You look to him and Jay Jays nephew to create for Giroud and that service hasn’t been good enough…
Sounds like Debuchy has had another stinker…
Seems that moving him on in January is the way to go…
that is the only plus that there was tonight Kev. At least those four players will have gained much needed match experience.
the minuses???? Crap seniors, crap kit, crap performance.
still good experience for the ‘youth’
Kamara could play against a lower EPL team with Sc19 or MA08 next to him…
Flamini well; he runs for the sack of it…
I am still to be convinced why we spent big money on Debuchy…
Well Coach, what do you make of Iwobi, Kamara, Bielik and Bennacer?
The defence let us down tonight it seems.
They need to go out on loan mate. to get good match experience. They still have a way to go. look at Akpom, Zelalem and Hayden……they are getting good experience plus game time. And are praised as well.
Debuchy???? consider his injuries and you can see why the result today. Bellerin over him any day.
I am worried about Chambers though. He needs to regain his confidence.
It will come….but I hope the supporters will not lay into him.
Good night mates.
Another coach who turns up every summer to listen to AW at the UEFA summer seminar has beaten AW…
A shambles and an embarrassment. Also a sharp warning as to how shallow our first team squad really is.
I’m going to take the positives from that . Oh well goodnight then.
10 % chance of winning, Carlos Carvalhal should be hauled up in front of the FA first thing in the morning for taking the pish big time.
I didn’t watched the game but I knew the score.
i’ll watch the game later.
Another Portuguese coach…
Chelsea, Monaco, Olympiakos, Sheffield Wednesday….
and that’s all!
One positive…..one less distraction.
Didn’t see the game.
Don’t want to see it lol.
rico 9.03, contrary to popular belief I was, especially after the way we put the scum to bed at the Lane, I suppose we should all could our blessings it was all part of Wenger’s master-plan to win the league in the long run ! zzzzzzzzz.
It wasn’t entirely the back fours’ fault. Sure they were less than good but the midfielders, all of them, just weren’t up to the task! SWs larger, older and harder midfielders over ran our youngsters imo. In fact, as poor as they were defending they were no better going forward, little wonder Giroud got no service! Granted losing the Ox and Theo early on did not help but sadly the understudies just weren’t good enough. As has been already said the squad is paper thin and has been exposed good and proper tonight.
Learn and move on. Can’t say I’m too bothered just disappointed by the poor display. Still tomorrow is another day in the Arsenal soap opera!
Nite all.
I like to hear the reason why, when the guy crossed for the third goal, why Gibbs thought it was a good idea not to head the ball out for a corner, but to duck underneath it…???
No challenge put in at all on the first and second goals…
Very poor and very worrying…
Brutal performance no heart from the senior players and the kids to be brutally honest ain’t good enough. Well done to Sheff wed better team tonight.
Fingers crossed Chamberlain and Walcotts injuries aren’t serious but if they both miss the next 3 or 4 games we will most definitely suffer results wise.
More injuries….. wow didn’t see that happening AGAIN!
Gibbs ducking out of the way of the ball…..fucking embarrassing!
Morning Lee and all..
Shocking performance…. Spot on re Gibbs, disgraceful!
Wenger needs to be more ruthless with these gutless under performers/perma crocks…..the Arsenal gravy train is a fucking joke!
Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.
I am still seething about yesterday. Might as well have given Macey and some others a run out.
Campbell is a waste of space. Now why didn’t AW sell him when his price was 15mill and kept Afobe??? how much will he fetch now…..3.5mill at the max???
I have a feeling that against the swans it will be Flamini on the right hand side.
Morning Rico and all. He should surely have just put out a youth team.
Having said that you really have to wonder what Gibbs, Debuchy, Chambers, Flamini etc were trying to do. I can’t see a future for any of them at Arsenal. It’s a prime example of how we have fallen behind when it comes to real quality in depth. Gibbs and Chambers are taking money under false pretences at the moment and you would have thought they saw last night as a chance to show what they can do.
A crappy night all round really without a single positive.
Morning All
Just Gotta hope that Walcott is ok, otherwise we’re in the brown stuff…
Brudder, not that long ago Wenge used tor field a “weaker” side littered with young players and we used to get to the semis etc.
What has gone so drastically wrong?
The players you listed plus some more need to be moved on pronto!
Morning Adam, Kev and Devil.
Think AW is regretting picking Ox, Walcott, Ollie and Cech but I’m not sure he’s right to blame the youngsters. Imo, the experienced players were rubbish…
16m for chambers from what I’ve seen we have been well stroked on that one. Maybe the kid needs a loan.
Brudder that’s a problem. You need to be turning over players regularly to keep up the quality and refreshing the squad. I would think that a new left back/ left sided midfielder would replace Gibbs in the summer. Debuchy too needs a new challenge, Flamini seems to have lost what little sense of discipline he had etc, etc.. I have never seen Chambers do much myself. The odd decent game at right back but that’s about it.
This injury thing might start to bite and screw our season. For me, January is looking to be a critical month if we can hang in there.
Rico. Everyone was rubbish really. I hear people going on about our excellent youth setup and Jonker etc but they look way out of their depth right now. Miles away.
Morning all.
Haven’t seen the game.
Don’t care to.
Most of the other top clubs can field a top notch 11 for games like this because they have 25 top class players.
We do not.
What to kids have Citeh and Chelksi produced over recent years?
We may not have found too many, but we’ve done a hell of a lot better than them and that’s because they at least get some chances.
No question we need a few more class players, but a happy medium is required.
The answer lies somewhere between us and the two oil backed coubs, IMO.
Pardon the spelling, but IPads really are sheeeeet.
Adam, but I wonder how a couple of those youngsters who played last night would perform had they not had a bunch of hopeless causes around them….
I honestly don’t think we should read too much into the game.
We know where we stand, and we all know we need an movement in our depth.
Until that happens, we just can not compete on all fronts.
Scott, when our squad players, the same ones who are expected to slot in when injury/suspension/rotation kicks in, can’t beat a Championship side, there’s a lot to read into last night imo…
I agree scott I don’t really care about the result myself I’m more anxious over the injuries..
Although debuchy, Chambers, Gibbs performance was shocking they really need to get their act together or maybe it’s just time to cut them loose in Jan.
I don’t really give a fuck about the milk cup, it just pisses me off our wage bill is vast and some players are stealing a living off of Arsenal.
The whole squad thing really needs re-aligning…..far too many crocks/under performers!
Rico, I don’t think we were primed to win, to be honest.
That championship side is full of tough, hardened professionals.
We had a few kids out there.
There’s no comparison as ability doesn’t count too much.
Anyway, it’s done….we move on and have a real crack at the one title we all want to win.
Lee, we’ve been carrying our share for years, you’re right on that.
A cull is required again but replacements are needed this time….we hit rid of plenty a few months back but that didn’t help lol
I mean something happens to Giroud (god forbid) and we’re fucked! The depth of the squad is painfully thin and needed addressing in the summer!
Spot on Lee. Summer clear out needed. Again….
Scott, reckon you have a point. I’m actually not even sure they wanted to win, even AW said after the game they can’t compete for all four comps. Just a run around for a few imo..
And, I don’t honestly believe that either Walcott or Ox are injured….
Rico, I’m not defending Wenger by saying that….he did the right thing but ONLY because we are short in quality, and that is on him.
I can say I’ve never been so close to being happy at Arsenal losing.
Not happy, but not one bit disappointed, to be honest.
I’m not fussed about losing either Scott but it’s about how we lost, the squad etc etc…
I wish we’d fielded the under 21 side but hindsight is a great thing….
New post up now..