Arsenal vs. Chelsea: The Carling Cup Final Preview 24 February, 2007
Posted by lasagnechef in Cup Games.trackback
Well tomorrow is the big day and a cup final in Cardiff always messes with your nerves the previous day. Gunnerblog has some good advice on what to do today to try and forget about tomorrow.
We’ve usually dropped out early in the league cup due to Wenger’s youth policy. However this year our bunch of youngsters have been so good we’ve managed to make it all the way to the final. Some may argue that we’ve included one or two big names along the way such as Toure etc but that’s literally one or two.
It all started up at West Brom in round three which was followed by an exiting tie against Everton. In the draw for the quarter final we got Liverpool; the match was abandoned due to heavy fog an hour before kick off but in the rescheduled match an inspired reserves side won 6-3. In the Semis we were drawn with Tottenham in a mouth watering, two-legged affair. We came from two down to draw 2-2 at the shithole and when they came to ours the game went to extra time but in the end we won 3-1. And now here we are at the final facing the favourites Chelsea.
The 29,000 ticket allocation sold out and it should be a fantastic atmosphere. A trip to Cardiff is always special, you don’t just remember the game, it’s all the events building up to it and the long pilgrimage to Wales you remember. This final is different to any other we’ve had there though. The FA Cup is undoubtedly the most important and the Community Shield is really just a pre-season friendly. Both of those cups are quite fiercely contested though.
For Arsenal anyway, the Carling Cup is a bit of a nothing tournament which we use to test our youngsters at a higher level. We never really expect to go anywhere but the likes of Diaby, Denilson, Almunia and Aliadiere have been excellent and earnt 1st team places along the way. If it wasn’t for this cup we would’ve have seen Denilson, what a wonderful player he is. I used to be so exited about Cesc’s future but now it’s all about this kid.
I’m not really sure what team will start tomorrow. Gallas wants to start but I’m sure I read somewhere that he’s part of a group of 1st teamers who definitely won’t play. I imagine it’ll be the same sort of line up we’ve seen in early rounds but with a very strong bench including Rosicky, Adebayor and Gilberto. Clichy and Hoyte are having fitness tests and if they are fit I expect they will play. I thought the tests were yesterday but I’ve heard nothing yet. Cesc might start in the centre; it’s weird to think he’s still officially one of our younger players isn’t it?
The only real question is who’ll play at left midfield, it could be Hleb or Rosicky but if Wenger is going to use his reserves it’s hard to predict who’ll be there. I was very impressed with Denilson when he played there at Anfield but both Diaby and Baptista have been put there before and looked lost. There’s also the option of going 4-5-1 with Baptista up front and Aliadiere on the wing but I prefer him as a striker. So if it was up to me this is what I’d do, I’ve kept in mind injuries and also thought about what Wenger would do:
Rosicky played against Spurs in the last round so it’s not as if his inclusion in the side would be a surprise. He’d do a great Job on the left wing for us; it’s just whether or not Wenger feels there is a youngster that can take his place. If it wasn’t the final we might’ve seen someone like Randall there but I think Hleb or Rosicky will be out on the left come tomorrow afternoon. There is also the option of playing Clichy or Traore there with one of them behind in defence, I also think that would work quite well.
Well we’ll find out tomorrow what the team will be and I’ll be interested to see what Arsene will go for. John Terry is now fit which is a bit shit but I have heard Lampard’s got the flu but I don’t expect him to miss the game becasue of it.
I’m leaving London at 7.30am tomorrow morning and hope to be in Cardiff for lunch. I’d prefer to be there earlier with a 3.00pm kick off but Cardiff is fucking ages away + there’s two sets of fans coming up the M4 to Wales. Whatever the result, I hope to just have a good day out. I’m going to Edinburgh early Monday morning for the week and there’ll be no updates on the site. So I’m going to try and do a quick match report how ever late I get back Sunday night. Make sure you follow the boys tomorrow but most importantly, just have a laugh. See you later.
cant see that being the team mate.
Fab & Den too sililar
Expect Den and Diaby in the middle
Would expect Djourou to get the nod over Senderos given Swiss Phil’s Drogbaphobia
Think AW will go with Traore too over Clichy although probably thats unwise
Am sick at the thought of Lardy having hte flu and snivvelling his snot everywhere – aaaaghhh
If chel$ki are worried enough to resort to mind games as silly as this rubbish with john terry then we can only assume they are rather worried!
This will be very difficult. Asley and Terry recovery is nonsense. That is why they have so much injury. Terry twisted his ankle and I am suprised at his speed of recovery. Whatever I don’t give a fuck.
Tomorrow will be an amazing game and will be very very quick. Your selection is not strong at all. Denilson, Diaby and Walcott will play tomorrow. That means it will be between Fabrigas and Tomas. I will go for Fabrigas because Chelsea fear him. At the back that will be the most unpredictable.
The strongest defence for me would be Djourou, Giberto, Toure and Traore. It could be Hoyte, Toure, Djorou, Clichy. Clichy for me should play but Arsene is talk suggest he might go for Traore. Senderos should be rested for the PSV game and Eboue could be back for that.
Tomorrow, I don’t know. I can’t make my mind up but the fact is that we have a great chance to win this game. My prediction is that we will win 2-1. They will win if they play like they have in the previous round.
Alumina
Hoyte/Djourou Toure Gallas/Giberto/Djourou Clichy/Traore
Walcott Denilson Diaby Fabrigas/Tomas
Ali Bap
Arsene must be careless with his selection. This is a cup final and some of these players could force their way into the first team with a great performance. Finally we need luck as well.
What is all this nonsense about Terry and Cole? I knew chelsea liked drama but this is ridiculous. If Terry’s hurt, then he should be a man and admit it. This mind game stuff is childish.
As for the game tomorrow, I think if our boys get out there and really put their hearts in it, we could pull it off. It is going to take a stellar performance from gallas and fabrigas and others but I think we can do it. I agree with Glo though, we need a lot of luck.
Agreed with Alex, the defence is too weak to put Walcoot /Denison /Fab /Tomas in midfield, Diaby should replace Fab that involved too much games this season. He looks tired recently and performance is below par.
I don’t believe 1st team (tired) can win against Chelsea if maintaining same performance against PSV in Wed. So, why don’t take more youth with talent in squad? Coming FA Cup against Bolton and CL again PSV will be more important and tough. AW must rest his important players as much as possible for them to refresh.
Alumina
Hoyte(Flamini)/Toure/Djourou/Traore
Walcott(Helb)/Denison/Daiby/Tomas
Ali/Bap
Sub
Flamini Helb Fab Gilberto Senderos Adebayor
I’ve changed my mind so many times about the team, looking back at it now I’d say something completely different but earlier today that’s what I thought. Now I’m thinking Djourou for Senderos and Gilberto for Fabregas. No doubt I’ll change my mind again and again until kick off.
By the way I’ve added a new contact page. http://the-cannon.com/contact
I pray arsenal win whatever team Arsene choses…
Can’t wait for the game!
Not hugely surprised JT is fit. A bit like the egg-chasing ruse with Johnny Wilkinson this weekend. Fat lot of good it did them so more of the same for Chelsea please… I wouldn’t be 100% convinced of his fitness, especially if it went to extra-time. The prospect of Cashley coming back only to get destroyed by Theo… Wonderful.
While I think Traore deserves to start, I reckon Clichy will get the nod. I’d sooner have kept him on the bench and then unleash him if and when necessary (as we did at the Lane). Then again, Clichy is hardly a ‘senior’ player! Also reckon Tom will start the game. He’s becoming a hugely important player for us and his presence helps move us up a gear.
Almunia (always a good man for a penalty shoot-out and in great from right now)
Hoyte (if fit, although I’d play Djorou ahead of Gallas as he liked a bit uncomfortable out there on Tuesday)
Toure
Senderos
Clichy
Walcott
Diaby
Denilson
Rosicky
Aliadiere
Baptista
Average age of around 21 when you exclude Almuina? Nice…
Today’s the day when Theo does the business. WE GONNA WIN.
Got the goals here plus a length blog entry.
Hmm.
I think it’s important to take the positives from this game. We were more than a match for them and probably should have punished them more in the first half. When we failed to do so it was always a concern since Chelsea specialise in winning matches in such circumstances.
It was a great goal from Theo and the stress he released in his celebration was brilliant to see.
No complaints about their first goal from me. It was very marginal and I would have been annoyed had it been one of ours and he was called offside in an identical situation – just like Adebayor was late in the game. I prefer when the benefit of the doubt in such tight calls are given to the forward.
As for the second goal, Senderos lost his man altogether. Very annoying. Good header but really he should have been under more pressure.
The brawl… well Kolo was probably frustrated having missed that great chance to put us ahead before Drogba scored. His reaction was over the top and out of character and he probably deserved to go. As for Ade… well I saw him waving his arms but lotsa people were doing stuff so I feel the ref could have just sent the two boys off and everyone would have been satisfied action had been taken. At that rate, Fab and Lampard should have walked too. Webb likes the attention though and that shone through there.
Strange game and quite anti-climatic. I think we lost some tempo after the Terry incident and I really wished we’d had Hleb to stick on the left wing rather than Hleb who was less effective on that side. We were also disadavntaged by Hoyte’s injury – he was basically walking wounded for the last 20 minutes.
A shame but the team did us proud again. More than a match for the (former) champions and let’s hope their progress continues.
Thanks for the highlights arsenalist.
How important has the Blackburn replay now become?!
This should’ve been a win-win situation with the kids being showcased, but it turned out that they shamed the club with how they behaved when the pressure was on at the end, starting with Kolo. As captain, the example he set was a disgrace. They can’t expect the game to be made easy for them and they just lost it when they went behind and were held at bay.
Started well but chances that were made were fluffed or easily saved. Two goals and the bar being smacked twice with Almunia copletely beaten means we got away without being trounced. Matches are 90 minutes long, not 30.
let me no the record of chelsea