Carling Cup Semi vs. Scum preview 31 January, 2007
Posted by lasagnechef in Cup Games.trackback
The scores are level at 2-2 after the first leg and it really could go either way. Last week we were 2-0 to Tottenham at one point and you had to wonder if we were going to make it to Cardiff. However ‘the boys done well’ and the got the scores level again. Without being bias I’d say we have the upper hand going into the 2nd leg; with the home fans, the two away goals (is there an away goal rule in this competition?) and the return of Mr. Silva, Spurs should be worried.
I do not see us losing tonight. If you think back to before the game at Anfield I was saying I wouldn’t mind us being knocked out if it meant Tottenham weren’t the first team to win at the Emirates but I’m confident a weaker Arsenal team can hold the Spurs attack and progress to the final. If I’m going to be completely honest with you, I don’t think we’ll win the cup; Chelsea put a full-strength team out in this competition and it’s going to take an amazing performance for a reserve Arsenal side to beat the reigning Premiership champions. This year Wenger has included a few more experienced players so you never know the strengh he might go for but it definatly won’t be 100%.
The first half at White Hart Lane was awful and Le Boss must’ve had a real go at the kids in the break. We we 2-0 down to our rivals who haven’t beaten us in something like 7 years. In the second half the performance was much better and if we’d had a bit more time we might’ve stole the win. Another performance tonight like in that second half and I think this one is in the bag.
The team will be fairly simiar to last week’s with a couple of changes. Fabregas started last week but I think Gilberto will come in for him in centre midfield. Hopefully Diaby isn’t stuck out on the wing again and I’d like to see him partner Silva in the middle, or it could be Flamini. The right wing will be occupied by Theo Walcott but I’m unsure about the opposite flank. Last week Diaby played there unsuccessfully in my opinion, but the round before we had Denilson there and I was very impressed with him. He is traditionally a more central player but I hope he’s our left midfield tonight. There’s another option of sticking Eboue on the right wing and Walcott on the left, I think it’d work well but I think it’s unlikely Wenger will start like that. It was announced yesterday that Baptista will be unfit so I think it’ll be Aliadiere and Adebayor partnered up front.
It’s certainly not a bad team and definatley one that can beat the scum and go all the way to the final in Cardiff. However we are still runing the risk of Spurs being the first team to win at our new ground and that is just not acceptable. I’m looking forward to a good game tonight, enjoy it from wherever you’re watching.
Thanks for reading.
my big worry is walcott. can we afford to be carrying such an off form player in such a big game? at least use him up front as playing him on the wing is like playing with 10 men. trouble is then ali and walcott is a lightweight pairing. I’d drop theo and hopefully Eboue will be fit.as you hint, use denilson on the left wing where he had a decent game against liverpool.
It might be a bit lightweight up front with those two but the logical consequence of that would surely be a significantly more effective midfield feeding the forwards if Theo is one of the front men & not struggling out wide in midfield no?
there is an away goal rule, if i’m not wrong. that was how we lost to west ham last yr.
Why not play 5 accross midfield with walcott on the left supporting Ade when he can. It will also meas walcott wont have a marker on him the whole time as the midfield will be packed.
Almunia
Hoyte Kolo Senderos Traore
Eboue Diaby Gilberto Denilson Walcott
Ade
Walcott and Eboue breaking down the wings to cross for Ade. Walcott id right footed so hw can cut back inside to shoot. If i remember correctly he got a few goals for the saints and england raiding from the left to inside. It also measn Gilberto can sit and hold. Diaby can break forward. Denilson can spray passes about. And we have good covering for the fullbacks.
Gazzap that’s total bullshit about Theo and misses the point of how Arsenal use the Carling Cup.
It is first and foremost an opportunity for players to get games and experience under their belt. Whether you’re Aliadiere, Traore or Walcott., the main aim is to get experience, fitness and confidence. That is exactly what Theo needs and that is exactly why he should be one of the first names down on the teamsheet tonight.
The guy is only 17 years old and has shown good flashes this season in his limited and irregular outings. He’s had little injuries as well which hampers consistency. But seriously, had he not been bought for all that cash and with all the World Cup limelight, would people judge him in the same way? Not at all. His every contribution is analysed as if he were 27, not 17 and only just breaking through. He’s done well. Not world class amazingly brilliant perhaps, but certainly he’s done OK and had some great moments.
Games like tonight are what he needs and that’s what the Carling Cup is all about at Arsenal. If he scores or gets in a good cross, it could make all the difference.
Besides what use playing Eboue if he got injured again? That would be moronic. He needs a break, a bit like Kolo. They’ve both played so much football in the past 12 months – first team regulars and two major international tournaments. All this football has led to niggling injuries. Plus the sooner Gallas is back the better, just to give Kolo a breather.
Deise… …I think that would be a pretty good formation actually, giving us plenty of pace and after last week seeing Csesc and Denilson working together mmmmmm delicious (in the second half).
Lasagne Chef, not that it matters but you have the grafic from last week up as next game, we are at the ‘Grove’ not the shithole
Come on you Reds,
What do you think of tottenh*m?
Eboue isn’t available in any case. We’re too short on right sided players to rush him back for this one particular game. Here’s the squad:
2. Abou Diaby
4. Francesc Fabregas
5. Kolo Toure
6. Philippe Senderos
7. Tomas Rosicky
15. Denilson
16. Mathieu Flamini
19. Gilberto
21. Mart Poom
22. Gael Clichy
24. Manuel Almunia
25. Emmanuel Adebayor
30. Jeremie Aliadiere
31. Justin Hoyte
32. Theo Walcott
45. Armand Traore
Only surprise is Fab I think, but I imagine he’ll be on the bench as an insurance policy in case things go wrong.
Almunia
Hoyte Toure Senderos Traore
Walcott Gilberto Flamini/Diaby Denilson
Aliadiere Adebayor
I hope Diaby gets the nod. I thought he did OK on the wing last week, given it was his first game and not his position. It would only benefit us to get him match fit and if he tires, then throw on Fab or Flam.
——–Almunia
Hoyte, Toure, Senderos, Clichy
——–Gilberto
Walcott, Diaby, Denilson, Traore
——–Aliardiere
bench; Poom, Flamini, Rosicky, Fabregas, Adebayor
I think we could see Traore pushed up in a 4-5-1
AW could play for the draw and the away goals (or a goal)
Gilberto to hold and Diaby and Denilson to provide steel and flair with flying Wings.
if we are trailing we would see Fab, Rosicky and Adebayor for
Walcott, Diaby and Aliardiere
In the Semi-Final ties, if the aggregate score is level at the end of the second game an extra
half-hour shall be played. If the aggregate scores are still level at the end of extra time the tie
shall be decided by goals scored away from home counting twice. If the teams remain equal
after this procedure the tie shall be determined by the taking of kicks from the penalty mark
in accordance with the Laws of Association Football.
yah I know!
oh well.. the chef asked this question in his post so.. anway Boo Booe is out.
Tonight was beautiful
All the goals from the Tottenham game.
yeahhhhhhhhh!
come ont he ARSE
pissed ase a newt an appy!
ohhhh yeahhh #arsenaista
again again againiah
8 years and still waiting…
This is to 10000000 more years in favor of the arse
Denilson was absolute quality last night. Baptista said at the weekend that he could be as good as Fab which seemed optimistic, but last night he looked superb. It’s amazing to think he’s only in Europe, never mind miserable England, 5 months and not yet 19 years old. His movement, tackling, passing and shooting last night was outstanding. Plus the way he took responsibility off Theo for set pieces demonstrates why he’s the underage Brazilian captain. Let’s hope to see more of that.
Diaby was also excellent last night – again it’s amazing when you think how little football he has played. Outstanding finish from Aliadiere. When you see it from above, you realise how acute the angle was and how quickly he reacted to it.
Funniest bit of all? Jol’s excuses! He was going on about Lennon and how he didn’t want to put a young player on the bench instead of him, while moaning Arsenal weren’t really kids! What a fucking idiot!!! Also moaned that Baptista’s goal at Shit Hart Lane was a lucky miskick – cause their two goals were quality?! LOSER!!! The difference between our reserves and Spurs’ first team is huge.
Can’t wait to see the kids stuff Chelsea in the final.
Apparently Lennon was ill after a meal before the game last night – they really should learn to stay off the lasagne.
Spurs fans moaning on F365 is pretty funny.
Arsenal aren’t so young apparently… only an average age of 22 last night… Also moaning that players like Fabregas, Senderos and Adebayor are experienced internationals while Aliadiere has been around forever…
Nice one Spurs fans! You just proved how excellent the set-up at Arsenal is. That at an average age of 22, this Arsenal squad is still superior to yours and good enough to play regularly at international level! Look at their young British ‘talent’ system… Huddlestone? Well he’s fat, I’ll give him that much. Jenas? Ha! Defoe? Did he even touch the ball in either leg? And 10 million for Berbatov? Gimme Adebayor anyday.
Better again, one punter moaned if they’d had King, Berbatov and Lennon, Spurs would have won. OK. Well maybe we could have started with any of Henry, Van Persie, Baptista, Hleb, Eboue, Gallas, Fabregad, Rosicky, Jens, etc. and we might have won…
this is our year to win the cup, i can feel it…we haven’t won it for so long but now our kids are absolutely world class! wenger will have faith in them which is nice of him as well.
and cashley hole almost certainly got injured on purpose…he must be scared of embarassing himself in front of walcott in the final.
Fair enough i suppose u have to say that Lennon and Huddlestone and maybe Berbatov are quality players. But in that case, i’d take Rosicky, Cesc and Titi/RVP/Ade over any 3 of them. Great result. Only regret was not getting to watch the match. Surprisingly, i’ve always and still have faith in Aliediere. I really really really hope this fella pulls through. He is class although 99% of the time he either doesnt get to or just plain doesnt show it.
oh yes Cole injuring himself? Tell me that he didnt deserve that? Anyone, no? anyone, no?
am commenting on todays amsterdam tornament cup (Arsenal Vs Lazio), which ofcourse arsenal will win, so long as the lineup remains like this:
Fabiansky
Toure
Gallas
Eboue
Sagna
Fabregas
Hleb
Denilson
Clichy
Adebayor
Robin van persie
BENCH
Gibbs
Bentner
Eduardo da silva
Lehmann