Arsenal News 24/7
AW will play our strongest team tonight. Chesney, Eboue, Kos, Djorou, Clichy, Song, Jack, Cecs, Theo, Samir, RVP
Previews
Written by Mean Lean on Wednesday, 12 January 2011 14:18
The smell of silverware is floating through the rain filled air this afternoon, the Carling cup competition replaces the weekend's FA Cup as the Arsenal squad look forward to a trip to Ipswich for the first leg of this semi final. The Mickey mouse cup will always be viewed as the last priority at the beginning of the season and rightly so but once you get to a semi final of any competition, the aim will be most certainly to win it.
Wenger now has to make a decision on which players he wants to start the game tonight, we are in a slightly different position to the one we found ourselves in on the weekend against Leeds. Most of our first teamers haven't played since the 0-0 draw at home to Manchester City and Wenger will want to keep his players ticking over, keep the sharpness and focus that we have witnessed for our last few league games but at the same time, he knows that West Ham away on Saturday is the more important game and picking up injuries to important players in the first leg of a two legged tie should be avoidable.
I expect Arsene to select a similar looking side that drew on the weekend with a few changes to those who have played a little too much in recent weeks. Johan Djourou is very likely to be rested whilst Alex Song may also step out to the bench. With injuries striking our center backs, the manager does not have many to choose from so I expect Laurent Koscielny to return in place of Squillaci who is suffering with a hamstring strain. I would expect Wenger to take a gamble with the inexperienced Ignasi Miquel, the 17 year old is the captain of the reserves and was not included in the recent 10-1 drubbing at the hands of Aston Villa. I would be astonished if Wenger continues with Djourou and then to play him again against West Ham on Saturday.
Mean Lean's Predicted Line Up:
I am hoping to see a more fluid performance from these players tonight, we simply did not click during the early stages against Leeds United and a sharper and quicker start to the game will be important for the rest of the match.
Hopefully the likes of Tomas Rosicky, Nicklas Bendtner and Andrey Arshavin can have a good game, if they all perform at the level that we have been used to then we should be able to beat an Ipswich team who are struggling in the Championship.
Chelsea recently ripped Ipswich apart at Stamford Bridge 7-0 and that just shows the gulf in class between the top end of the Premier League and lower regions of the Championship. The balance may well be restored a little by home advantage and a weaker Arsenal team than we could possibly select but even so, anything less than an away victory would be disappointing to the manager, but not a travesty.
A comfortable away victory tonight will allow Wenger to manage the upcoming fixtures much easier, giving Wenger the option of leaving certain players out of the squad in the return game.
One to watch: Andrey Arshavin:
The Russian international had a difficult last game for Arsenal and both himself and the manager should want a big response. He needs to have a 90 minutes of consistent quality as he did against Aston Villa away in November and Partizan Belgrade further back in September.
I would personally like to see Rosicky and Arshavin switch positions in this game and start Rosicky as a left attacker, giving our full back a greater level of protection and also harder pressing in the final third of the pitch whilst allowing Arshavin the freedom of the center to pick his through passes and striking from distance.
Arshavin may not help his central midfield team mates in the same way that Rosicky would but this should really be a game where we have a vast majority of the possession which should negate the need for a third midfielder in the middle. Having said all this, I do not expect that change but I do expect Arshavin to put in more than he has done of late.
Mean Lean's Match Prediction:
Ipswich Town 1 Arsenal 3 (Arshavin, Bendtner, Rosicky)
Even with the expected resting of big players for Arsenal, I would hope that we will have too much for Ipswich. The game on the weekend as well as the subsequent training sessions should have done these players the world of good. A good performance from these players can show that they are ready to step up to the big games should they be called upon.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS.
Fancy writing your own articles for fellow Gooners to read? Click Your Vision section.
-
12-Jan-2011 15:08 | | mikeastmond played against Aston Villa, he wil not play....And I think Wilshere, Nasri/Walcott, Fabregas will be playing for sure...
-
12-Jan-2011 15:13 | | MeanLean
Good point about Eastmond, you are correct. I would be surprised to see so many of our best players playing but they have had a rest I guess.
Whatever team we field, we should really beat Ipswich.
-
12-Jan-2011 15:25 | | mikthe same we were thinking before Leeds game and it didnt work out. Ipswich will be playing semifinal of CC at home, so I expect them to play their hearts out there...That´s why I would play some of best 1st team regulars. Not all of them. It will be tough game, thats for sure...
-
12-Jan-2011 15:29 | | clivei think it will be like this :
szczesny
eboue miquel/song koscielny gibbs
denilson
rosicky wilshere
bendtner chamakh arshavin
-
12-Jan-2011 15:38 | | MeanLeanWell Nasri has pretty much admitted that he will not be taking part tonight
-
12-Jan-2011 15:52 | | dilly - 442I would like a 442 like in the last round, Chamakh is not a box ST Bendner is not a winger, should play Chamakh just off Bendtner & maybe have Theo or Rosicky wide, with Jack along wih Denilson in CM.
-
12-Jan-2011 15:54 | | geoffreid - mrplay that team with denilson in--you will be clouted for 6--you guys never learn any lessons--arsenals b team is not strong enough--thats fact remember leeds what a disgrace.
-
12-Jan-2011 17:01 | | LexNasri has said on twitter that he will not be playing, but watching the game.
I am expecting this line up
Sczezny
Eboue miquel koscielny gibbs
Denilson wilshere
Rosicky
Bendtner Chamakh Arshavin
If Miquel doesn't start then I think Song will play there as Wenger will want to rest Djourou for the West Ham game.
Arsenal should leave as winners hoping for a Ipswich 0-3 Arsenal, let's try to kill off the tie in the first leg.
-
12-Jan-2011 17:17 | | Sobin the Indian goonerMy 11
szchesney-eboue-miquel-koscielny-gibbs-wilshere-denilson -rosicky-arshavin-bendtner-vela
i think we can do it. COME ON GUNNERS
-
12-Jan-2011 17:18 | | Sobin the Indian goonerMy 11
szchesney-eboue-miquel-koscielny-gibbs-wilshere-denilson -rosicky-arshavin-bendtner-vela
i think we can do it. COME ON GUNNERS
-
12-Jan-2011 19:10 | | dkgoonerPersonally I think he should start with a stronger team and get the lead tucked away by half-time:
Szczesny
Eboué Djourou Koscielny Gibbs
Song
Rosicky Wilshere
Walcott Bendtner Arshavin
Then sub: Denilson for Djourou (Song going to CB)
Vela for Wilshere
Chamakh for Bendtner or Walcott
But he won't of course. He'll start weak and then strengthen if required - it's Wenger's way.
Be patient guys, 'cos they're going to fight like hell after Saturday's humiliation.
-
12-Jan-2011 19:49 | | dkgoonerMy God - he's done as I asked!
Thank you AW - now there should be no excuse.
-
12-Jan-2011 20:44 | | dkgoonerHalf-time 0-0
Front 3 very weak. Not enough movement or urgency.
Arshavin couldn't look more disinterested if he was in Moscow. Get him off and ship him out - had enough.
Bendtner started bright enough but he plays the ball back from whence it came too much, while Chamakh tries to hold it up. Switch needed.
Walcott not really in the game either but he's now got the yellow against the full-back so he can take him on - but will he?
Eboué still diving as only he can. Totally unnecessary - makes a clear foul look like a poor decision from the ref.
All round midfield and attack look too complacent.
Otherwise defence looking solid enough.
-
12-Jan-2011 21:01 | | dkgooner10 mins in.
Still playing like they think it's a training session.
Need a rocket up thier collective arse.
-
12-Jan-2011 21:47 | | dkgoonerWell done Ipswich, even though the goal looked offside - they wanted it - our lot couldn't have cared less.
So much for our squad strength in depth.
Even if we get to the final, we'll lose it on the evidence of tonight.
Disgusted in the lack of effort and by the casual, complacent attitude.
5,000 Arsenal fans went to Ipswich to watch that - gross disrespect from the players.
I know it was said by a former Spud, but it still rings true - Walcott doesn't have a football brain. He's an athlete trying to play football. Should have stuck to the 100 metres.
Long way to go Mr Wenger with this squad. Another barren season methinks.
Ipswich had one win in their last nine matches before tonight.
That's enough - more important things to attend to. What a waste of an evening.
Powered by Compojoom comment 4.1.7 stable
<... 
Comments (22)