Written by Mean Lean on Wednesday, 27 October 2010 02:11

The rigours of the Premier League and Champions League gets put on hold on Wednesday night as Arsenal get ready to play in the glorified friendly competition also known as the Carling Cup. The kids get a chance to strut their stuff on the Newcastle pitch. Well I say kids but it is not so much of the kids anymore, more like the other part of our squad, such is our superb strength in depth these days.

The Geordies are likely to field a slightly weakened team, well that is if they continue as they did in the last round against Chelsea. Newcastle had enough in their locker to overcome Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on that day in a fully entertaining game of football, so taking them on at St James' Park cannot be taken lightly.

After our fantastic away day at Manchester City Arsene is likely to wield the axe of rotation. Plenty of our personnel have returned from injury and now need games to get up to speed and the Carling Cup is the best place to use a player who might be rusty. I am thinking of the likes of Theo Walcott, Nicklas Bendtner and perhaps Laurent Koscielny if he has fully recovered from his injury. Other players like Tomas Rosicky, Emmanuel Eboue and Kieran Gibbs are pushing on the door hoping to get a run as a first team regular and those players should all start.

As far as I can see, the back four and midfield almost pick themselves, unless Wenger has a trick or two up his sleeve but it is the attacking three that leave question marks for us supporters. Nicklas Bendtner, Theo Walcott, Carlos Vela and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas are all jockeying for a starting berth but unless my maths is worse than it already is and I tell you, it cannot get much worse. Four into three just doesn't fit, no matter how you try and squeeze it in.

Given how the pecking order seems to be ordered you would suspect that JET maybe the one dropped down to the bench but listening to Arsene's press conference you would think that JET was about to be given the captaincy and the number four shirt off of Cesc's back.

The Carling Cup is clearly the last of Arsene's priorities this season but this does not mean that winning the competition would not be a positive thing for the club and the players. I do not expect the players to give any less, especially as many of the players will be those hoping to be number one in their positions for the big games.

Wojciech Szczesny has been itching in his pants for a first team start, so much so that he couldn't help but to shout out in frustration in recent weeks about his lack of pitch time. With Wenger sending Mannone on loan to Hull City, it is Szczesny's chance to show what he can do and become our cup keeper. He spoke very well in his pre match interview and said that nerves will not be a problem as he does not suffer from them. Good lad.

Our last appearance at St James' Park was a good one, winning 3-1 Bendtner was amongst the scorers with a header so lets hope he can continue where he left off at Eastlands. Nicky B has an impressive hurdle to get past before he can stake his claim, new boy Marouane Chamakh has been one of the signings of the season so far and Bendtner will require a super human effort to be chosen ahead of him at this stage, a good performance tonight wouldn't do his chances any harm.

Youngster Henri Lansbury who started in the last round against Tottenham could find himself back in the center of midfield ahead of Denilson and behind Rosicky. If he does get the nod then now would be a great time to take his chance, especially with both Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey unavailable for different reasons,

Mean Lean's Predicted Line Up

(Click image to enlarge)

One to watch: Tomas Rosicky

In the absence of Cesc and Nasri the puppet controls will be handed to Tomas Rosicky who I imagine will play in his favoured role, offensive midfield.

I think he has somewhat unfairly been given more of a back seat this season but when he has had minutes on the pitch then 9 times out of 10 he has performed to a very high level. Cesc's absence was hardly felt at the start of the season when the Czech maestro made a game changing appearance at Anfield and then ripped Blackpool apart at the Emirates.

It will be interesting to see how he gets on without another offensive creative ball player around him. He will be the one mainly responsible for slipping through the likes of Walcott and Vela and will be invited to join Bendtner whenever he can. I fancy Rosicky to open his goal account tonight.

Mean Lean's Match Prediction

Newcastle United 0 Arsenal 3 (Bendtner, Walcott, Rosicky)

If the players can put on a similar showing to the mauling at White Hart Lane then I think we will have too much for a Newcastle side who are bound to make changes. The Newcastle pitch will be big and if we use the ball correctly then Newcastle could struggle with our game. I hope Theo can make his diagonal runs and hopefully he can play with Rosicky.

I am hoping that Jay Emmanuel-Thomas gets enough time to show what he can do. It is likely to be from the bench but if he does come on then hopefully he will be able to stake his claim for some future first team action.

Fingers crossed that the Arsenal momentum train continues with victory tonight.

COME ON YOU GUNNERS

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Comments (14)

• 27-Oct-2010 10:30 | | Wales
  

  I'm going for a thumping 6-0 victory to the ARSENAL. Go on!!!

• 27-Oct-2010 10:30 | | DJ Dragonfly
  

  Tonight I will finally get a chance to see Szczesny in action. From what I've heard, he looks like an excellent prospect, but his contract runs out at the end of the season, which is a bit of a worry.
  
  I think Wenger will go with the above line up, but I would like to see Vela and Walcott playing on opposite flanks, which would allow each player to cut inside and shoot on their favoured foot. Despite Walcott's excellent start to the season, I feel he would get more goals and an extra 20% out of him if he were deployed at left attack.
  
  Can't see JET starting the game either. I think he's an excellent prospect, but I'm not convinced that he's at his best as a forward. Central midfield looks like a more ideal area for him.

• 27-Oct-2010 10:32 | | Tom
  

  I would love us to win the Carling Cup this year.
  
  I was always uncomfortable with our attitude towards it in previous years. Especially as our squad was not strong enough to win either the league or Champions League. Why throw away your most realistic shot at silverware?
  
  I want us to go all out for the FA Cup too. Winning silverware, in whatever shape or form, is vital this season for Wenger, the fans and the players.
  
  It will give the whole club a massive lift and, more importantly, will whet the appetites of players and prove that they have what it takes.

• 27-Oct-2010 11:29 | | Feeno  - Fi the land down under - Scotland
  

  Dj Dragonfly, I take it you never saw much of the pre-season games then mate cos JET was immense upfront in a couple of those.
  
  His movement, link up play and finishing where all top drawer (against decidedly shoddier teams than our own but still good none the less)

• 27-Oct-2010 11:30 | | Kim Kit  - LINE UP
  

  highly unlikely, i would think vela would not start, and that the attacking half would be like this:
  
  Chezzer
  
  Eboue Djorou Koscielny Gibbs
  
  Denilson JET
  
  Rosicky
  
  Walcott Bendy Walcott

• 27-Oct-2010 11:55 | | Mersey  - They are big in the air!
  

  I think he will play his strongest team to be honest, its not going to be easy. I can see Newcastle causing us a lot of problems in the air.
  
  Little find that I thought I would share with my fellow gooners. Wicked website that shows you whenever Arsenal are on TV http://www.locatetv.com/person/arsenal/351006 even highlights, previews. Well handy, bookmarked.
  
  Looking forward to the game tonight. Hopefully we will go a few goals up and then get to see some young guns have a run out.

• 27-Oct-2010 12:59 | | AustrianGooner
  

  great roundup, love the website!
  For all those who, like me, will watch the game on a stream... that's the best website for it: myp2p.eu ---> then download sopcast or veetle and you'll have a great stream ;-)
  Newcastle 1-4 Arsenal (Bendtner, Walcott, Rosicky, JET)
  Up the Arsenal!!

• 27-Oct-2010 13:55 | | eritrean gunner  - we will win in a style
  

  i will go with henri lansbury than jet coz we didint see much from him

• 27-Oct-2010 14:14 | | MeanLean
  

  Yup, would have to agree about JET's performances as a center forward. He looked fantastic in pre season and has walked the reserve league in that position.
  
  I like him as a striker and hopes his future remains with us. It would be easy for him to get frustrated with Van Persie, Chamakh and Bendtner ahead of him but hopefully he keeps his head down and continues to work for his chance.

• 27-Oct-2010 14:56 | | Vela
  

  why not 11 walcotts instead of 2

• 27-Oct-2010 14:58 | | dkgooner  - Great team Kim Kit
  

  Walcott on both wings. What a stroke of genius. Why didn't we think of that before? Let's hope Wenger reads this blog before this evening.

• 27-Oct-2010 15:00 | | dkgooner  - Smileys
  

  ML - smileys appearing at end of row. get it sorted man.

• 27-Oct-2010 15:09 | | dkgooner  - Wojciech's big chance
  

  He's only had half games so far this season as far as I can remember. Liked the interview on Young Guns yesterday with a Polish journalist who said WS's father also had a big mouth :-)
  I don't think his time at Brentford last season is much to go on. There's a huge gulf between the divisions. So I will also be very interested to get a good look at him in action. That's if the defence allows him to feel any pressure. His countryman is now beginning to find his form and confidence so it's going to be a battle royal for that goalkeeping spot the rest of the season when Manuel is back from injury.

• 28-Oct-2010 09:10 | | MeanLean
  

  Let us not get carried away here. I was watching the Manchester City game again and if it wasn't for the sending off then it could have been a different game.
  
  It could have also been a completely different game had Arsenal not scored four and Newcastle scored two.
  
  I still think we lack strength in depth and have this weak underbelly. We need to be made of stronger stuff. If Arsene spends £42.5 million in January (no less) then we can challenge for trophies.
  
  How do we actually expect to win trophies without getting into debt? Get a grip Arsene and the board, spend of go. Martin O'Neil is out of a job, get him quick.

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