It started as a little cup the year a little team from Middlesex won the old First Division title. For most of the quarter-century I’ve been an Arsenal supporter it has been an also-ran cup, a seeming afterthought in which the Arsenal played mostly the kids, blooding them for more important silverware. It was only as we advanced that more senior players would join in the cause; when we lost in 2011 to Birmingham it was our first choice center back and arguably first choice goalkeeper (Kozzer and Chezza) who mixed each other up for the damnable Martins to poke home.
In the last few years it has been the Al-Citeh SubCup, the shine of silver muted by the sheen of an oily coating, with the Blue Oilers of Manchester winning 5 of the last 8 finals. In the post-Wenger years we’ve had a hard time getting past both Liverpool and the 4th round, and losing last time out at the first hurdle to a Brighton squad soon to qualify for Europe. Needless to say, Mikel Arteta hasn’t necessarily made it a priority among other cups and gongs; perhaps now that our squad depth has improved we can alloy that with a crop of Hale End tyros to yield a successful run to the finals, or perhaps even lift the little trophy.
Our opponents have been even less successful than our 2 EFL trophies, having made the final twice (the last in 1981 just before it was christened the “Milk Cup” for the 1982 competition) but never winning the whole thing. Since 2018 they’ve not gotten past the 4th round, and as often as not exit in the 3d round. This time around they got out of the 3d round defeating Lincoln City 1-0, the same scoreline Arsenal advanced with against Brentford. As a result, the Hammers host Arsenal on Wednesday for an evening clash to see who gets to move on towards the 2024 EFL cup.
West Ham
The Hammers are a mid-table stalwart, riding in 9th place of the PL table, above Chelsea and just behind Manchester United. Moyes’ boys lost a disappointing game to a struggling Everton team in front of their home fans this past weekend, making it 0 wins from their last 4 games in all competitions (including the Europa league, where they lost for the first time in 19 games to our old foe Olympiakos).
Moyes favors a 4-2-3-1, with Zouma and Aguerd in the middle of defense flanked by Cresswell and Coufal. Ward-Prowse and Alvarez sit between them an an advanced 3 of Paqueta, Kudus, and Bowen, all of whom can feed Antonio running alone up front. However, this doesn’t seem to have led to a flow of goals for them; they’ve not gotten as many as 3 goals since mid-September against European foes TSC Backa Topola. And their defense has shipped 2 goals per game in the last 5, a stretch also back into September. They have no injuries to speak of, or at least none that Moyes would speak of; some rumours have it that Antonio is nursing a niggle, and might have to sit on the bench or miss out altogether. The 5-yellow-card-suspensions for Paqueta and Alvarez don’t come in to play for the EFL Cup, though they will miss the Hammers’ game against Brentford this coming weekend.
The Arsenal
We are holding steady in second place of the PL table, just behind the Middlesexan woad-daubers, having won three and drawn one since losing at Lens in the Champions League. Goalscoring hasn’t been a difficulty against most teams, though we seem to score only one or two if we’re not scoring 4 or 5! Yes, complaints about our “control” of the game versus the amazeball we saw last season are liable to erupt if we come out and play stodgy, controlled football against West Ham. But do remember we did this against Sheffield United, and while a different kettle of mushy peas from the Hammers we did end up putting 5 past them, in the end.
Our injury list is looking better, though it sounds like we’ll not be seeing Partey or Jesús any time soon, and captain Mø might be coming to the stadium for a seat on the bench. Mo’neny returned and got an assist against the Blades, helping Tomi with his first goal in his 50th game with the Gunners. Congratulations, Tomi!
I do hope we bring in some young blood to mix with the old. Even though they played against Brighton on Sunday, we could see Ruell Walters, Jimi Gower, Jack Henry-Francis, Amario Cozier-Duberry, and Charles Sagoe, Jr. on the bench or on the pitch to start. We might even see Ethan Nwaneri come up from the U-19 squad. One can hope, eh? If we do blood some of the youth we could see a squad like so:
Ramsdale
White — Saliba — Kiwior — Tomi
Rice — ESR — Gower
ACD — Eddie — Trossard
Needless to say, we’d have a strong bench.
Otherwise I could see something a little more usual:
Ramsdale (I really don’t see how Raya can start either way)
White — Saliba — Gabriel — Tomi
Jorghino — ESR — Rice
Saka — Eddie — Gabigol
And if this were the team we could have some of the young guns mentioned on the bench. In any case, I’d like to see a fast start, a couple of first-half goals, then two more in the second half with a clean sheet leading us into the quarterfinals. And that really would smell sweet…
The Holic Pound
The bookies might have you believe at 6/1 that a draw is somehow going to be the result, but 1-0 to the Arsenal isn’t much better at 15/2. There is value for money in any mix of Arsenal scoring 3, even better is Arsenal scoring 4, where my predicted scoreline will get you 50/1. If he starts, Sagoe Jr. is a good bet at 10/1 to be first goal scorer.
For all who go tomorrow enjoy the cool, cloudy London weather; set your olfactory bulbs for petrichor, and bring a mac for the rain that should greet you as you sing Arsenal’s victory on the way home. For those who need to watch the game on the TV, have a look at ESPN+ in the USA, or Sky in England.
COYG!
Cheers, scruz. Excellent preview not to mention sales pitch for ESPN+ 🥸
but lacking a subscription to the above I might go to the pub for this one. I would like to see us lift this trophy.
The pub being the place where I warched us lose that 2011 final, but the jinx was broken when I saw us beat Chelsea at the same place in the FA Cup Final a few years on when Auba did his magic.
Nice review, Scruz. “ Middlesexan woad-daubers” – top notch.
I fancy a different approach for tonight, in that I want Arteta to utilise the squad depth he has been able to build, keeping some of our regular starters on the bench for late in the game and saving legs for Saturday.
Ramsdale
Cedric White Kiwior Zinchenko
ESR Jorginho Havertz
Nelson Eddie Trossard
Of this 11, I would see only White and Eddie starting on Saturday.
21CG and I will be wending our way to the London Stadium for the first time tonight. Getting to and from the old ground from Upton Park station used to be an exercise in sprinting capability, so I hope that has changed at the new one, notwithstanding my new bionic legs. Hope to see C100 and son there, possibly. Quite likely to be getting home via some old bloke’s ark, by all accounts, as the storm is due to hit from 6 ish tonight. Proper away trip weather!
For avoidance of doubt, I don’t expect to see Nelson Eddy up front anymore than I expect to see Rosanno Brazzi start at centre half.
Great preview scruz thanks! Like your
score line too, looks about right given
Wham’s current form. Sadly Wham started
the season well (I say sadly as I had Moyes
as first to go in the Tintack Stakes) but they
have reverted to type recently and we have
a great chance to sicken the stadium stealers
again.
Guessing the team was a thankless task but
personally I don’t want Rice to start. And
I’m guessing at least one of White/Saliva will
be rested and Gabriel will come back.
Ramsdale
Tomi White Gabriel Kiwior
Jorginho ESR Vieira
Nelson Leo LikelyLad
That’s a great preview Scruz, nice to have you back from Italy. I don’t think we’ll see any kids in this game against Premier League opponents. Rather, I think the squad of 18 he’s been using will be to the fore, with some finishers on the bench.
Like CER and 21CG I’m looking forward to being at the London Stadium tonight, along with 5533 other Gooners. Should be loud and proud.
Lovely story
https://theathletic.com/5012722/2023/10/31/poorly-drawn-arsenal-the-mental-health-project-that-has-become-something-ridiculous/
nice work, scruz.
like others, I can’t see this being a match to blood yoof, rather an opportunity to get minutes into the first team squad legs that haven’t been used much yet this season though heaven knows how the boss will shuffle his pack. braver men than me have added their tuppence worth. I haven’t a clue what our team will be but I do know that if Ramsdale isn’t between the sticks then he’s at the exit door already. as for the score, I do know that we won’t score four.
despite the seven we once put past his Everton team way back when, Moyes does now know how to organise a team to be difficult to score against and doesn’t let them take risks. Set pieces will be their major threat unless our left flank goes to sleep and gives Bowen a free pass. I’ll take a match that we control and be happy with any kind of victory with no more injuries. I’ll have my capitals back, now.
I’d been feeling slightly undervalued until you showed up Bathgooner but my sense of self-esteem seems to be returning thanks to you. 🙏
Just for the record, the error described in this article cannot be considered a ‘computer error’ so long as a ‘human error’ does not compound it. I hope and trust the IT experts would agree.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67284302
Great preview Scruz!
I think this will be a match where only established players will start, even if some of them are not the regular first eleven. Assuming Saliba gets a rest, I see a team like this:
Ramsdale
Tomiyasu – White – Gabriel – Kiwior
Vieira – Jorginho – ESR
Nelson – Havertz – Trossard
Havertz’s height and aerial abilities coming in handy on both ends of the pitch… and on two very busy-on-the-ball wingers on both sides the German’s more laconic shadowy style of play provides a good combination…
I am expecting another Hale End masterclass, this time from our #10.
Come on Arsenal!
A fine and informative preview, Scruz. In the finest lexical tradition of this place, you sent me scurrying to the dictionary with ‘petrichor’.
Second-guessing Arteta’s selection for this game is a fool’s errand. Like others, I suspect he will start predominantly first-teamers will a yoof or two on the bench. Walters, Cozier-Duberry and Sage Jr might have the best shots at getting some minutes.
Dr F@11: Your team looks credible. I agree that Saliba will likely get a rest. Tomi at RB to match up with Bowen, with Benny Blanco moving inside, makes sense, especially if Saka does not start, as he shouldn’t. Kiwior is better at CB than LB, in my book, but Gabriel will probably be the starting left-sided CB.
thanks, all, glad you enjoyed it.
and i do hope he plays the kids, even if it means he has to bring some starters from the bench at 68’ to breach moyes’s fearsomely-constructed defense and win 1-0. 🙂
Just about out the door pub-bound. COYG
Terrific preview Scruz . You have set the scene perfectly
I suspect our midfield ( lacking ESR who is possibly absent through injury) isn’t likely to dominate but I said the same at Brentford .
This is a nice to win game but we have other fish to fry. Wet Soam don’t want to lose to us and vice versa because of local bragging rights .This may go to penalties . Let’s avoid serious injuries and hope for the best
ESR has a new ‘ knee issue’
I’m afraid he’s too fragile to rely on week to week . He only played one PL game and came off early
well, i got the lineup nearly completely wrong, and MA8’s ideas on the use of kids. not our strongest lineup, but one hell of a strong bench. glad to see aaron playing, sad for esr; both could have shone, now just aaron’s chance to work his way back into the picture. no speed in midfield bothers me a bit, love the three up front. defense should be solid if unspectacular.
Plenty of time to pull it around is about
the only good thing
Or not.
Wasn’t that bothered but I didn’t want to
lose to the likes of West Ham
That was pretty dire, but also one of those nights that just wasn’t our night. We move on to SJP…
Dire indeed. Scruz you must be on to something re lack of speed in midfield because we were second to every ball.
>>>>>>>