As games begin to come thick and fast, next up is a home tie in the Carabao Cup (it’ll always be the League Cup to me) against Brighton and Hove Albion. This is not a competition, in any of its incarnations, in which we can boast a proud history. We have won it only twice, in 1986-87 (Gorgeous George’s first trophy as Arsenal manager and Kenny Sansom’s swan-song as captain) and 1992-93 (when Steve Morrow’s arm was broken after Tony Adams dropped his celebratory hoist) and been beaten finalists a record six times! Part of the reason for our lack of success in this competition was Arsene Wenger’s early decision to use it merely to blood the kids and as a result it was the only domestic silverware to elude him. It would be nice if Mikel could upstage him though we do still have bigger fish to fry!
Brighton is clearly a well-run club and has been able to maintain its Premier League status despite regularly selling top talent every summer. Its record of finding and buying talent in the darker corners of Europe, Africa and South America has been extraordinary. The Seagulls used to be quite a ‘cuddly’ club but the arrival of Fabian Hurlezer in June 2024 has changed all that, with his inflammatory antics on the touchline and snide post-match interviews. Yet, the event that changed my perception of the ‘Seagulls’ was how Van Hecke contrived to engineer Declan Rice’s sending off last season which, while largely the responsibility of a numpty referee ‘who had no choice’ but to brandish a second yellow card for touching the ball to the side, was still the consequence of gamesmanship by the Brighton defender which was applauded by their coach in his post-match interview. Hurlezer has transformed Brighton into the football equivalent of its ‘Seagull’ soubriquet: nasty, noisy, aggressive, sharp-beaked, keen on scraps and looking to steal your lunch.
In the last round, Brighton won handsomely at Barnsley, beating the Tykes 6-0 with four goals from Gomez, a Paraguayan midfielder of whom I had never previously heard, until sitting down to research this piece. In the previous round they beat Oxford United by the same score. Hurlezer fielded largely a reserve team against Barnsley including only Welbeck, Baleba and Kadioglu whose names I recognised. I suspect he will choose a stronger line-up against Arsenal and I expect to see the likes of Verbruggen, van Hecke, Dunk, De Cuyper, Rutter, Ayari and Minteh added to strengthen his side. I can’t see him not ‘going all in’ for this match in the hope that they can recover from their disappointing result at the Old Toilet in the first half of which, their previously assured play out from the back was tentative and occasionally suicidal. Nonetheless, they still represented an attacking threat with brisk and clever interplay and really should have scored before Manure opened their account. Brighton fully deserved their second half recovery from 3-0 down and for a brief period at 3-2, after an excellent free kick from our old boy Danny Welbeck, it was squeaky bum time for Manure until they scored a late fourth. Hopefully, Danny won’t go on a run of scoring against former employers. The Seagulls will be optimistic in this game as they beat us in the third round of this competition at TNHOF 3-1 in November 2022.
Although the Seagulls currently sit in thirteenth place in the PL after 9 games, they present a far greater obstacle than Port Vale whom we beat 2-0 in the last round with an early goal from Eze (his first goal in red and white) and a late goal from Trossard. Mikel Arteta made nine changes to his starting XI for the Port Vale tie bringing in Kepa, in goal, behind a back four of White, Saliba, Mosquera and MLS. Nørgaard was given his full debut alongside Nwaneri, Eze and Merino with the latter pair alternating the ‘left eight’ and ‘false nine’ roles and joining Saka and Martinelli in the attack.
The knocks sustained by Saliba, Rice, Calafiori and Martinelli against Palace and the illness that blunted Saka in that game will clearly influence Arteta’s choice of team. Without those injuries, I would have been confident that either Saliba or Gabriel would provide defensive continuity and experience as Arteta likes to have one of them at the heart of a changed defence. However, it seems likely that both will be ruled out. Gabriel was a doubt for Palace and sustained a couple of heavy crunches – one from a collision with a post – and I expect prudence to prevail. Likewise, but for illness and injury, I expected either Saka or Martinelli to start in attack to add experience and threat. Mikel Arteta was, as ever, Delphic in his responses to questions in his pre-match ‘presser’. However, he confirmed that Saliba and Martinelli are definitely out, Gabriel is ‘touch and go’ and Rice, Saka and Calafiori are available. He also suggested that Hincapié was short of match fitness.
I am certain that Kepa will start in goal again and that Arteta will probably select three of the back four that started against Port Vale: White, Mosquera and MLS. Without doubt, Arteta would have preferred to add the experience of Gabriel but as this may risk long term fitness, he will probably have to employ a novel central defensive pairing. Mosquera has made himself a clear starter in this situation and the $64,000 question is with whom to pair him in the absence of both regular starters. The young Spanish centre back has looked top class alongside either of our regulars but it will be a big test for him if he has take the lead in the centre of our defence. Arteta has declared Calafiori available for selection and the HIB (handsome Italian bloke), if he is indeed fully fit, would be my first choice at left centre back as he is clearly familiar with the Arsenal’s defensive ways and has often played that position for Bologna and for Italy. Timber is another possible option at centre back alongside Mosquera as he has experience in that position but he is a regular starter whose legs need resting. In my opinion, despite its popularity in the Goonerverse this week, a central pairing of Mosquera and Hincapié would be a risk, given how little the latter has played recently and his relative inexperience of Premier League opposition. MLS is a shoo-in at left back if Arteta thinks Hincapié is not yet match-fit. Having said all that, if Gabriel make a sufficient recovery, I expect him to start alongside Mosquera in the heart of the defence. I would certainly not bet against Gabriel declaring himself fit and ready!
Before this flurry of injuries we were certain to rest our first-choice midfielders and I expected to see the same quartet of Nwaneri, Nørgaard, Merino and Eze as started against Port Vale, with the latter pair again alternating ‘left eight’ and ‘false nine’. Should Gabriel not be available to provide experience and leadership in our central defence, we may see Zubimendi selected as a second holding midfielder alongside Nørgaard to provide an experienced screen for a novel central defensive partnership and add ‘nous’ going forward. That would enable us to rest Eze after his emotionally draining performance against Palace and employ him in the ‘finisher’ role to add late ‘chaos’ to proceedings.
Up front, I originally expected to see Martinelli on the right in the absence of Saka as I, personally, think it’s too early for Dowman to start against such feisty Premier League opposition, despite widespread calls for his inclusion. However I would certainly start Dowman in this game if both Saka and Martinelli were ruled out, and I do expect to see him join the fray on the right as a ‘finisher’. As Martinelli is definitely ruled out, I expect Trossard to start on the left but to give way to Eze as the game progresses to spare both sets of legs. I anticipate we will see Merino reprise his alter ego of striker as Gyökeres has run himself ragged throughout the last few matches and clearly needs a break. We cannot afford to gamble with Gyökeres’ long term fitness by starting him in this game as we currently have no fit back up other than Merino. The Swedish striker may possibly be another to join the fray late on but only if needs must.
Thus, in this unexpected injury-blighted scenario, informed by Arteta’s ‘presser’, my XI is:
Kepa
White, Mosquera, Calafiori, MLS
Nwaneri, Nørgaard, Zubimendi
Saka, Merino, Trossard
We must avenge that bitter and costly draw in the league last autumn and I don’t think that Mikel Arteta will readily treat this as quite the disposable competition that Arsene Wenger did. I know many Gooners dismiss this tournament but that doesn’t seem to be Arteta’s style. The team that started against Port Vale didn’t obliterate the lower division outfit quite as well as expected and if this particular opponent proves as difficult as they have been of late, I expect any available, fit, first team regulars to join the fray as ‘finishers’ later in the game. However, it does seem likely that the bench will also include a few Under-21 hopefuls.
The score? I think the game will be scrappy and tight and a hard won 2-1 to the Arsenal.
Enjoy the game, Holics, wherever you’re watching.
Cheers, Bath ! A comprehensive round up of an injury situation I hadn’t appreciated. Calafiori is going to have to rein in his usual wandering style if he starts at centre back but your selection looks the most likely to me.
Leaving for the airport at 02.45 this morning for a 06.25 flight back to Luton so some sleep will be needed before kick off.
I always think of this pot as the Rumbelows Cup – if not the League Cup – and I’d probably rather not be reminded of how long ago that was !
Are corners and various other set pieces still allowed in this competition ? If so, I hope we score ten of them and then shove a XL pineapple up Jamie O’Hara’s bum and ask him Doddy style “how’s that for one of your five a day ?”
Come on you Rreddsss !
Very fair assessment of the selection dilemma, Bath. Sixty minutes for Calafiori and half an hour for Hincapié may be Arteta’s solution at left centre back. Timber deserves, and needs, to put his feet up. It will be an interesting selection of youngsters to pad out the bench with both our U-21s and England’s U-17s playing today, the latter game taking out two bright prospects, Marli Salmon and Josh King. Dowman seems likely to get some minutes, and so could Andre Harriman-Annous if Gyokeres is rested. Louie Copley and Cam’ron Ismail have reportedly also trained with the first team in preparation for the match.
A perfect summary of Herr Hurlezer and his band of gulls there, Bath. (It was the odious Veltman who knew exactly what he was doing when he almost fractured Declan’s tibia while swinging and missing a still rolling ball for the ludicrous yellow card).
THat’s a pretty good stab at tomorrow night’s team I’d say, although it isn’t impossible that MLS may move into left midfield instead of Zubi and be replaced in your eleven by Hincapie at LB.
Enoy the game. I’ll take a home win of any size or flavour.
It sounds like Arsenal Women’s emerging star, Michelle Agyemang, the teenager now on loan at Brighton, has been seriously injured playing for England. Best wishes for her complete recovery.
Thanks Bath, a thorough run through of the odious Hurlezer and his
modus operandi as well as our current walking wounded.
I think your side looks about right given what MA has said,
though personally I would start Max and bring Bukayo on later.
To be honest the key selection point to me is the trips away at Burnley,
Prague and Sunderland that are coming over only a week prior to the next
damned interlull. Tough schedule travel wise and I wish the toughest one
on current form wasn’t the last one.
A fine description io Brighton and Hurzeler. The one that made me angry was when he barefacedly said that Joao Pedro’s booting away the ball 60 yards after the whistle blew was not a yellow when Rice’s was. You remember, the one where the PGMOL decided there were two sets of rules in play. Frankly, he makes me sick and I hope they get pounded tonight.
Thanks Bath for a very informative preview. I join the consensus here in finding Hurzeler a oretty dislikable character. There’s a line between banter and repugnant, one which he crosses far too often. Apart from the very likeable Danny Welbeck it’s hard to find any other positives about the seagulls.
The bosses judgement will come under large scrutiny in the team selection he puts forward for tonight’s game. It’s a match we want to win as our trophy less drought is too long for a squad of our abilities so as strong as possible team will be needed to overcome an opponent who themselves will be looking to go all the way having no European matches to distract them. Mikel will have to weigh up the fitness level of some regular players crossed with need to give lesser used players some much needed match practice.
A win of any nature will be enjoyable.
COYRRR
Thank you for the informative and thoughtful preview Bath!
We have a great opportunity to go into the international break with a robust lead at the top in the league and with a very good position in the CL table. This match should be seen in that light with three very important away games coming. Even though the squad is now considerably deeper, it’s not infinitely so and we seem to be picking up an injury a game, with fatigues playing a part no doubt. This team plays football at its most intense — physically and mentally— form, in a time where the intensity in PL across all the teams has increased by orders of magnitude, so comparing to teams past that used to play same few players every few days won’t be a fair. The league cup is fourth in the order of importance, and I am sure irrespective of his public messages, Mikel’s team selection will reflect that priority.
Kepa
White-Mosquera-Hincapié-MLS
Nwaneri-Norgaard-Eze
Dowman-Merino-Trossard
That should still give us a strong foundation, especially at home, to see us through. 2-1 sounds a reasonable scoreline, but it would be great to continue the no goals conceded run, even with the second choice back five. A 2-0 would do nicely.
Come on Arsenal!
A fine preview and very credible team selection Bath . I would like to see Hincapie start alongside Mosquera . He is a full international with lots of experience in the Bundesliga and was fit enough to be on the bench recently . I’d like MLS to get good game time and I’d go very positive and have a front four of
Dowman. Nwaneri, Trossard
Merino .
I share the widespread distaste for the ghastly Hurzeler, and have very little regard for his club either . I remember going to wish them well when they played at Gillingham( and almost folded) but their current incarnation is very financially savvy and last year’s events which include the ridiculous penalty Joao Pedro earned at their place have tainted my view of them .
We did lose a few seasons ago to them in this competition when Hein made his only appearance and had a shocker but we are now made of sterner stuff with a deeper squad . 2-0 to the Good Guys !
Well, I got that wrong! Mikel is trusting youth and Hincapié:
Kepa
White, Mosquera, Hincapié, MLS
Nwaneri, Nørgaard, Merino
Dowland, Harriman-Annous, Eze
Quite a strong bench:
Raya, Gabriel, Timber, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Trossard, Gyökeres, Saka.
I also got Brighton’s selection completely wrong.
Steele; Kadioglu, Coppola, van Hecke, De Cuyper; Baleba, Boscagli; Rutter, Kostoulas, Gómez; Tzimas.
Go kids!
Nwaneri puts us 1-0 up!
CoYGS!
Saka 2-0!
@10 don’t think anyone called that XI Bath!
Though Ned did mention Harriman-Annous as a possible
Think Liverpoo would take our 1-0 home win over Palace just now 😂😂
2-0 to The Arsenal and into the Qtrs we go.
8th win on the trot, another clean sheet and not
a goal conceded the whole month.
I wish they all could be October 😄
OM @15, you mean 0-ctober or Nil-tober?
Hahaha, it’s going to be a shock when we do finally let one in
Home to Cardiff would be the best draw I suppose
Fingers crossed.
OM@17: There’s history with cup games against Cardiff and not good history. Reg Lewis and greasy new sweaters.
OM@17: There’s history with cup games against Cardiff and not good history. Reg Lewis and greasy new sweaters.
>>>>>>>