Wednesday night kick-off at 7.30 PM, we are going to play Crystal Palace in the Carabao (EFL) cup quarter finals. We have probably got the easiest draw out of the 8 teams and as frustrated as I am with our Premier League run and football we are playing in general, there’s still some hope. I had written enough about my frustration in my last post so it’s time to see the brighter side in this one.
First, we are doing well so far in Champions League. If we win another game there, we will most likely qualify for round of 16. Though we have been shit in Premier League lately, we are sitting third behind Pool and Chelsea and on a 6 points difference to Liverpool who have a game in hand. Lets say they win that and we would be 9 points behind but there is still 22 games left and it can go any side. We should be concerned about our game and the way we have been dropping points against small teams but it’s not over yet.
I’m sure you would agree to me if I say that Premier League and Champions League takes the priority over Carabao Cup, but there’s a very important factor here – CONFIDENCE! If we win against Crystal Palace at home, it would not only put us closer to a title where Newcastle, Tottenham, Manchester United and Liverpool are competing but can also give us back some of that confidence which we are lacking lately. A loss would further demoralise the players and the manager and there’s a hell lot of game still left that will decide our season in December itself.
So, lets go out and win this, and let us use that confidence of a win in Premier League games.
Arsenal v Crystal Palace
Carabao cup is interesting this season. No nonsense in quarter finals.
Newcastle will take on Brentford, Liverpool will visit Southampton and Man Utd and Spuds will compete against each other to make into the last 4.
The single biggest reason we should try and win this, is that Spuds are in contention and we don’t want them their hands on a trophy however small it is.
In the team news, we won’t have Ben White or Calafiori available. Mikel subbed Declan Rice against Everton due to a nibble so he would probably get a rest. Jorginho can start along side Partey and Odegaard and frankly I want to see us field the best XI available simply to win this and grow our confidence back but Nwaneri has been dominating the Carabao Cup for us with 3 goals and he deserves to bench Odegaard for this game. Ode, after back from an injury, shouldn’t be playing 2 games a week when there are much important games left plus Nwaneri has been very good so far whenever he has been given minutes. He is direct, looks more to score than Ode and we surely can develop him with these game minutes.
Injuries are a concern but if you were to play your best playing XI in a Carabao cup game against Crystal Palace at home when you are competing in both PL and CL, then you were wrong to begin with. Lets be clear here, our 2nd team is also a Mikel-bought one and if we are paying the likes of Jorgi, Sterling, Merino some good money and if they can’t win us a game against Crystal Palace, then the manager have to take the blame.
It’s a crucial one, this game. Lose and our confidence goes down through lift. A win here would give us some much needed confidence and that could help us play better in coming days.
Short one today, hope Winter is treating you well. See you during the game tomorrow.
Tony and TVRL- great so we are now being fed that community shield is a trophy. After Wengers 4th is a trophy narrative this is a new one. Great then we should start including Wengers 7 charity shields as well. Doesn’t this narrative makes us a small club mentality? Instead of focusing on the actual trophies building a narrative that favours you is so modern day headline mgmt. Wow that next we will have open bus parade for charity shields?
Madhu
Sad but true but will have to keep the dwindling fan boys happy……..
TRVL
All week, we’ve had MA diatribes while the serious press ask more delving questions as to “why” this season, like the last 3 seasons is going pear shaped with Henry telling it like it is tactically, and the Mail expelling why we have a goal drought.
Maybe they read LIR or just fans who can see what’s in front of them when understanding the rudiments of football and the game.
I was thinking the other day with VAR tech and operators improving tin foil companies maybe feeling the pinch and happy for the festive season hoping for controversial decisions that would be the company’s best Xmas present.
“how ironic that ever since he ousted Emi for even asking, he’s handed out assurances like old school Oprah on speed”
That had me chuckling at the right time.
Not sure how many of you follow Arsenal Women, but Arteta is glorifying his achievements, wonder how do we look at Women team’s achievements?
Arsenal sacked coach Jonas Eideval midway due to his losing streak after winning trophies and reaching CL semis. Now new coach Slegers is on an unbeaten run and having qualifies for CL quarters as well. League is lost though.
seemingly every pundit has a new Striker at the top of our wishlist, even those who’ve been Arteta apologists over the past couple of seasons…just not sure if I can say the same about our tone deaf manager’s wishlist…even so, a good point was raised by Keown about one of our supposed leading candidates, VG, who’s been scoring for fun at Sporting again this season…MK’s concerned that this particular option might not have the required pace, which is why Isak makes infinitely more sense…in order to properly effect change we need acquire someone who could take the top off the pitch, then hope that MA will know how to properly utilize this type of player, which might be easier said than done
Isak would be a great pick for us bar his injury records.
HSBCnet,com may be helpful for global banking.
Tony – Exquisite summary of GG and what he meant to Gooners of our vintage.
Just getting back to normality after Málaga. Very nice little break. I’d have liked to have extended beyond Christmas but no joy. Spain does Jesus’s birthday in a far more understated way than the UK.
Hoping for a solid straightforward win tonight. Don’t need any frills, we just need to progress. Lying el Bastardo has said he’s aiming for Carabao joy this year. Yeah right…
Did you know it’s 31 years since we last won it. Against the 🦉s I think. I got properly pissed that day.
Well, the rules a bit changed today. It will go to penalty directly if it remains a draw at the end of 90min.
Raya
Partey, Timber, Kiwior, Tierney
Jorginho, Merino, Nwaneri
Sterling, Trossard, Jesus
—
We have picked up a very weak team today. One of the worst games to rotate, when you need a comfortable win to get back that lost confidence!
Hopefully, it’s still enough for the Palace. #COYG
when I lived in North London my wife and I frequently visited Abbetone, an Italian restaurant in Winchmore Hill. GG was a regular visitor there – always immaculately dressed and open to chat with the other diners.
Ambarish
Only one youngster tonight.
Madhu
I largely agree about the women’s team which like you I also follow closely. Slegers is clearly getting a tune out of players who were bombing under Eidevall. They still miss far too many chances, but Slegers seems to know her best 11 players and I think should be given the job full time. Bayern Munich tonight (I guess at Borehamwood). I’ll be watching bits of it between the Palace game. 2 victories please
That front line really doesn’t scream goals does it.
Sterling hardly kicked a ball and Jesus scored 1 goal in 705 minutes this season.
Kiwior huh
… Na-na, na-na, na-na, na-na-na-na now
Arteta you’re a cunt you’re cunt
Arteta you’re a cunt
Ambarish—I think you’ve got it all wrong…this lineup means that MA’s not settling for lesser hardware…remember we play this same side on the weekend, so MA’s likely banking on them caring far more about this nothing burger of a competition and playing their best 11…regardless, we should still beat them considering the sad fact that even MA’s island of misfit toys lineup has cost us far more than the one Palace will field…I do wish there were a couple more kids, but what can you do
TRVL
Wenger would have played 4 kids, a couple of players coming back from injury with the balance made up of first team fringe players.
And then beaten them 4 nil.
TRVL
Yeah, Arteta does see the bigger picture but I personally feel it will dent us a bit more if we don’t win today..
Marc
Yep, and with some nice football.. not this pass for eternity shit.
if this was the FA, I might think differently, depending on the standings at that time