To take it seriously or not to take it seriously, that is the question.
For the last couple of years, Arsenal have been on an upwards trajectory. From narrowly missing out on the top four with the youngest squad in the division, to nearly topping the financial juggernauts, Manchester City, for an unexpected title. Much was expected of Arsenal this season, and it still is. But Mikel Arteta’s side remain without major silverware in just over three years.
That may not seem like a long time, and it is true that this club has endured far more barren spells in its history. But the time has now come for them to lift some metal again.
The League Cup is without doubt at number four out of four in Señor Arteta’s list of priorities this year, as it is for all our rivals. But it is a trophy that is there to be won. A trophy we have not won since 1993 as part of a domestic cup double that year.
Wenger regularly used this tournament as a chance to blood some of the youngsters to varying degrees of success. We made the final on three occasions under the Frenchman, losing all three. All were painful for various reasons. In 2007 a 17 year-old Theo Walcott put a young Arsenal side in front against a Chelsea team of star-studded superstars in Cardiff. However, in the second half Abou Diaby did his moral duty as a human being by kicking John Terry in the head. The lengthy stoppage in proceedings caused Arsenal to lose momentum as Wenger’s young side were denied by their long term nemesis, Didier Drogba. Future losses at the hands of Cities Birmingham and Manchester ensued.
Normally I am rather dismissive of the League Cup but this year I feel differently. We really ought to win something. Winning the title feels unlikely even at this early stage, as does the Champions League. There’s always the FA Cup after Christmas but who knows, mid-season silverware might prove to be the catalyst going into the final few months of the season in which we hope to be in the thick of the title race as well as the latter stages of the Champions League.
And it is not as if we do not have sufficient depth to put out a second-ish string team and still come out on top against a solid mid table outfit in Brentford. If I were Arteta, I would revert to Ramsdale in goal as the cup ‘keeper. The back four selection will be interesting given a number of our back up defenders can play in numerous positions. Personally I would be inclined to play at least half our first choice backline. Perhaps something like, Tomiyasu on the right, supported by Saliba, with Kiwior as his partner and Zinchenko on the left? Despite our growing injury list that is just one of a number of combinations Arteta can go with.
The midfield will be an interesting one, both Rice and Partey are almost certain to miss out, so we could see a rare start for Jorginho, perhaps anchoring a three man midfield with Vieira and Havertz on either side with one of those two playing in a slightly more advanced role.
As for the front three, I would like to see Eddie up top flanked by Nelson on the left and Smith Rowe on the right. A nice combination of pace, and trickery with a poacher down the middle. Perfect for a cup tie against strong opposition.
The game will not be televised live in the UK but I am sure it will be in almost every other country in the world so it could be a torrid night in what I’m sure will be the first stream-hunting session of the season for a number of our readers. I will be one of them so fingers crossed.
As for my prediction, it will be a very physical game against a side who, despite missing their most dangerous player in Ivan Toney — who may well be one of us in a few months — remain technically and tactically very strong and well adaptable to changes in circumstance. I am going for a hard fought, but deserved 3-1 win for The Arsenal. Eddie, Nelson and Vieira on the scoresheet.
COYG!!
Nice preview, 21CG. The team you propose is still strong enough to win the game, however the bench will be considerably weaker than we have become used to as a result of the injuries. I guess we’ll have Cedric and Elneny and then quite possibly a few of the exciting u21’s. I would rest as many of the remaining first team as possible, which I appreciate goes against your argument, but the fact is we have more important games coming up and we really can’t afford any more injuries.
Excellent preview 21CG!
League Cup has the fourth priority, and we should treat it that way. Especially given our injury list: Timber, Partey, Gabi, Leo, Saka.
My team would be something like this:
Ramsdale
Walters-Elneny-Kiwior-Tomiyasu
Vieira-Jorginho-Havertz
Reiss-Eddie-ESR
Havertz taken off after 60 minutes for Nwaneri.
Come on Arsenal!
Silverware would be good, 21CG. Your sentiment is well-placed.
I suspect Arteta will want to play a strong team, as Brentford surely will. He may also prioritise continuity at this early stage of the season as he continues to bed in his new system. The training pix on the club site feature the big names of the first team, not that that proves anything. We will be playing without a keeper on that basis—neither a Ramsdale nor a Raya to be seen. I wonder if Arteta might play Zinchenko in midfield, with Tomi coming into the defence. (What of Cedric, I hear you cry…)
Jorge Bird says that of the youngsters, Lino Sousa, Reuell Walters, Jimi Gower, Charles Sagoe Jr. and James Sweet were called up to training today. Surprised not to see Cozier-Duberry or Lewis-Skelly included. Injuries? I doubt any of the youngsters will be handed starts, although Sousa and Sagoe Jr might find themselves on the bench, given how injury-stretched we are, especially at full-back and on the left wing.
Excellent preview 21CG .
I have a contrary view. I’d love to see us win tomorrow and indeed lift the Cup at Wembley but in comparison with our other priorities ( including the FA Cup) it pales into insignificance. As we progress through to have any chance of victory you have to play your best players ….and you overburden your squad. So in theory it’s a nice thought but in practice we have other fish to fry.
Your team is very close to what we may see although we may see Ben White at centre
back . I’d certainly go with Ramsdale and I’d certainly like to see what Havertz can do as one of the main players in the side . We have several youngsters who could acquit themselves well and even if we lose I think the Goonerverse will accept a positive attempt to win.
Brentford must see the opportunity here in this competition and they must be favourites to win against our reserves . I think the Bees will win but my natural desire to see Arsenal win every game they play makes me hope this won’t happen.
Nice preview 21CG. You highlight the conundrum about this competition well. Do we take it seriously and play a strong team or do we select aspirant back-ups and promising yoof? I expect MA8 to take the opportunity to give the aspirants a run out and give his suddenly decreased number of first choices a rest on the bench or even in the stand. In the expectation that Brentford will also be prioritising PL survival (even at this early stage) over a cup run, I expect Frank to ring a few changes but play a few more first choice players than we do.
I was at all three of those finals lost under AW and they were thoroughly dismal affairs. It’s far easier on the psyche and not much less financially rewarding to blood a few hungry players and go out in a spirited tie in an early round. Win if you can but, FFS, don’t break a leg!
I would select:
Ramsdale
Cedric/Yoof, Tomiyasu, Kiwior, Yoof;
Elneny, Jorginho, Havertz;
ESR, Nketiah, Nelson.
And a bench of first choices (excluding Zinchnko, Saka & Jesús) and yoof for addition as needed.
At this juncture, we need no further injuries to key players and there are several who clearly already need nurturing.
COYG
Cheers 21CG.
Bath’s last sentence (pre-slogan) sums it up for me too.
Bath@5: Brentford may well play fewer FA and League Cup games than we play CL group-stage games, so I doubt potential fatigue will be overly concerning for Thomas Frank.
You are right, though, that we don’t need any more injuries at this point.
I like this competition for one reason only – the opportunity to give young talent an opportunity to play for The Arsenal first team. Consequences be damned beyond the learning experience.
Bath sums things up nicely in true Bathesque fashion. I’ll go with his team with the prediction that our promising, up-and-coming youngster, Cedric will start at RB.
Arteta is seemingly sagely heeding Bath’s advice, suggesting in his pre-match press conference that there will be rotation and yoofs against Brentford.
Thanks 21CG, a fine preview and I hope you’re right about the result. Regardless of the competition it would good to get a win after the last game.
I was there last time we won it and wouldn’t have guessed at the time that we’d be at the 30th anniversary having never won it again. Though I’m not a big fan of the competition i must admit 30 years is way too long.
Agree with Bath and Btm
We could reinstate Ramsdale and go with
Ramsdale
Walters Tomi Kiwior Sousa
Jorginho
ESR Vieira
Cozier- Duberry. Nketiah Nelson
Subs
Hein. Cedric.Elneny . Sweet. Nwaneri , Lewis- Skelly , Sagoe , Havertz , ( that means Elneny would double as centre back ) . They could bring in Monlouis but Walters can cover
Having had a look at MA’s comments I guess some of the teams predicted by my fellow Holics are fairly close.
Nelson, Tomi, ESR, Kiwior and Jorginho will all start I’d assume. Personally I wouldn’t start Elneny after so long out, let him come on for Jorginho, and I just wouldn’t start Cedric at all as I can’t see the point when we can give yoof a chance.
Yoof winger Charles Sagoe Jr given a start against Brentford, chosen ahead of Cozier-Duberry who is on the bench along with James Sweet and Ruell Walters. Otherwise, a strong team despite heavy rotation:
Ramsdale
White, Gabriel, Kiwior, Tomiyasu
Jorginho (c), Smith Rowe, Havertz
Nelson, Sagoe Jr
Nketiah
Bench: Hein, Cedric, Zinchenko, Walters, Sweet, Elneny, Odegaard, Cozier-Duberry, Jesus
Brentford look pretty much at full strength.
Well, that was a bit sweaty!
Fingers crossed for a favourable home draw.
We made a lot of sloppy mistakes but unlike Sunday, we did not get punished for them. **wipes sweat from brow**
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>