I don’t know what Arsène wanted for his birthday, there is in any case little about this most cerebral of football managers to suggest he is particularly motivated by material possessions. I’ll bet he didn’t have a nil nil draw with Middlesbrough particularly high on the list though.
Fortunately we weren’t the only club with a little bit European hangover at the weekend and the players have the opportunity to present their boss with a belated gift much more to his liking. Reading are the visitors tonight and they will be looking for their first victory against Arsenal, a victory which would surely rank among the great cup surprises were they to pull it off. We’ve played ten won ten against the boys from Berkshire and scored thirty five goals along the way – seven of those coming when last we met them in this very competition.
Whilst that crazy game has been on people’s minds of late I’ve been enjoying memories of Alexis Sanchez’s winner in the FA Cup semi final. I don’t know what it is about the football fan’s plumbless appetite for schadenfreude but there is a particular pleasure to be derived from winning with precisely the species of goal by which we would most hate to lose.
Hopefully Reading won’t still be chafing about Gabriel’s handball – overlooked by the ref with the scores at one all, nor that Alexis pass back to Adam Federici which somehow ended in the back of the keeper’s net. It’s possible they may be motivated by such historical considerations but somehow I doubt it. Like Arsenal they will draw inspiration from looking at the fourth round fixtures, thinking to themselves that a few decent sides will be absent from the last eight.
The matches have fallen in such a way to guarantee that three from Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs, Man City, Man United and West Ham will be going out of the competition this week, leaving a potentially enticing quarter final for this evening’s winner. Of course I hope it will be Arsenal. In fact, you’re probably wondering why I feel the need to say that at all.
There are, you see, some among us who would be quite content to leave the League Cup to other people. Too many fixtures they cry, too many other competitions needful of our attention to worry about the Mickey Mouse tournament. Odd that it is Mickey who has become synonymous with things deemed unimportant and trifling. Why I wonder of all Disney’s creations should the most venerable of his animated stars be so derided by association? From now on I think you should refer to the League Cup as a Chicken Little of a tournament, but even if you do I still love it.
There is far less pressure surrounding the games so that awful dread of defeat doesn’t eat the stomach lining in the same corrosive fashion as it does during league or FA Cup ties. There are sneak previews of great young players like Jazzy-Jeff Reine-Adelaide to look forward to. There are first team fringe players like Kieran Gibbs and Gabriel, Noddy Holding and Corporal Jenks all of whom I really like and want to watch. And, gosh darn it, when all is said and done there is a trip to Wembley and a trophy at the end of it no matter how much of a Jiminy Cricket Cup you might consider it to be.
Arsène has rather taken the wind out the sails of us football blog artists by revealing much of his team in advance. The name which most excited me was of course Olivier Giroud. Our Gallic heartthrob has been sorely missed lately. Never more so than when we needed a different kind of threat against ‘boro at the weekend. His defensive work from corners and his aerial threat from crosses are always a massive plus but love him as I do the manager was cagey over what part he will play, merely saying “I think Olivier will be included”.
He went on in much less equivocal style where others were concerned saying “Gabriel, Holding, Jenkinson will play. Jeff Reine-Adelaide will play, I think Iwobi, Lucas, Oxlade-Chamberlain will also play. Gibbs – who captained the team at Forest – will do it again on Tuesday.” Factor in that Martinez will certainly start in goal and that’s nine of the eleven starters already down. I’ll leave the other two places for you to argue over, I’m content to wait. I’ll be happy if Olivier comes through unscathed. With him and Aaron coming back into contention the squad begins to look very strong indeed.
Our visitors’ form is a mish-mash right now.They win a couple, lose one, draw a couple, lose one and win one, which is a stark contrast to our long unbeaten run. Their manager Jaap Stam (yes that Jaap Stam – come on do you know any other Jaap Stams?) has made all the right noises, those you’d expect him to make and their squad is not without premier league experience. Captain Paul McShane has played for three top flight clubs and has thirty three caps for the Republic of Ireland, Chris Gunter will be familiar to all who followed Aaron and his mates as they frolicked through to the semi finals of the European Championships, and Tyler Blackett and Stephen Quinn are similarly experienced at a higher level.
Our side will, necessarily, be less familiar with one another and therein lies Reading’s best hope of progressing to the next round. As we discovered in Sheffield this time last year a blend of youth and experience, no matter how strong in theory, can come unstuck against determined, united opposition. The difference this year is, I believe, the strength of our squad. The guys pulling on the shirt tonight have a real incentive to impress their manager especially as the first team are doing so well.
That Wednesday match was significant chiefly for the injuries we suffered to both Oxlade-Chamberlain and Walcott rather than the disappointment of the result. Losing two such similar players at such a stage in the season had a huge impact and it is only recently that either player has returned to full form and fitness. So let’s hope for a relaxing, enjoyable evening, above all no injuries please, and if we can maintain our one hundred percent record against The Royals then I shall go to bed a happy man tonight.
Positively Arsenal 
Morning Stew.thanks for the preview.I often wonder what song you would suggest with your words for us to listen to? “Disneyland” by the Meteors?
Its ironic how much the tin pot cup is hated until it gets to the final, Spurs fans know that well!!
But let us not forget one of AFc greatest games ever recorded,at least in colour, the amazing come back against Reading last time in the LC!
Thanks again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This morning I was listening to (among others) Passions Of A Man by Charles Mingus. Not my usual cuppa but if a tune fits the mood…
LikeLike
Mingus was a damn fine bass player.Paul chambers is my fav though-when you look at what Chambers played on its amazing really, considering how young he was when he died.
Whose your fav bass player (shit Im sounded like a teenager!) but its still interesting.Ive often wondered if you liked Mick Karn?
LikeLike
Wenger said Iwobi will play too, which is a bit of an odd selection seeing as the lad has played a lot of football this season, maybe the malcontents are correct and him being subbed off in every game means he is in fact fully fresh, and we might see the rare sight of Iwobi playing a full 90 minutes tonight.
We might see 16 year old Reiss Nelson make the first team squad for the first time tonight. The club have big hopes for this lad.
Marc Bola and Stephy Mavadidi also likely to be on the bench.
LikeLike
The 7-5 ame was my favorite ever. Arshavin’s last real hurrah
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mattias Karén @MattiasKaren 22h22 hours ago
Gazidis on youth players coming through: “I’m convinced that over the next years you will see more young players bursting into our team.”
Mattias Karén @MattiasKaren 22h22 hours ago
Gazidis on hiring more experts and staff: “Gone are the days when Wenger would make all decisions himself” on diet, goalkeeping training.
LikeLike
LikeLiked by 3 people
LikeLiked by 2 people
I reckon Eddie that most “prizes” work on that system-
LikeLike
Mills – I’m off out for a bit, will email the bassist discussion it’s too long winded for everyone else here!
LikeLike
ok mate,till later!
LikeLike
Good morning Stew and a commendably brisk run through of the evening’s schedule. A sell out according to the AFC website and as a lot of tickets were £20 for adults and £10 for youngsters it is good that the crowd has taken up the offer.
I see Stam, apparently, wants to use the game to try out a few of his squad;
“Jaap Stam has hinted he will make changes ahead of Reading’s trip to Arsenal on Tuesday.
Reading’s boss has used the EFL Cup as a chance to utilise his squad this season, handing starts to players who have not played much football in the league.
And Stam appears to be ready to continue with that philosophy – despite the magnitude of the tie at Emirates Stadium.
He said:
Everybody wants to be involved in these games.
But you’ve got to be realistic, we’ve got a lot of league games as well.
So we will make a couple of changes again.“
LikeLike
This Balon d’Or thing becomes more of a farce each season. I se even FIFA have dropped it.
I know who the best footballer in Europe and the world is, the same bloke who has been the best footballer for the past eight years. I wish it was not so and there was some competition, but there ain’t. And that definitely includes you spotty.
A player who deserves a prize, a huge prize, earned over may many years of superb contribution to his club and to football generally is Gianluigi Buffon. Lifetime achievement.
LikeLiked by 5 people
That’s a lovely review Stew.
With the quality in Arsenal’s first 11 this season I know the boys that will all play tonight will be eager to show that they also belong.
COYG
LikeLike
Love it Steww. Royal Flush? Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Joker?
Playing tricks with your headlines, eh?
On a slightly different note. As part of my daily walk/jog, I sometimes listen to these popular Arsenal podcasts to measure the prevailing mood. Usually I am being self reflective; is my contrarian approach well grounded or just another another example of arbitrary self-identification without scientific foundation. Happily the Sage of Dublin did nothing to question my self worth. Can you imagine someone wondering whether Santi Cazorla makes a difference to Arsenal winning or losing? Lesson: Always trust the data.
LikeLike
To return momentarily to Shotta’s Cazpiece Santi is the sort of player I would want to watch even if his presence meant my team averaged slightly less points. Having said that against a bus parked side I would almost sooner have a Wilshere or Rosicky to unlock the way to goal as I think they have (or had) that extra little burst of pace. Or Brady.
LikeLike
Tim – or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cazorla had been playing like a Midfield Generalissimo of late.
Dictating play. Guiding the younger and more mobile legs from his midfield berthing. The occasional tackle against players twice his size to stamp his authority on proceedings. And any other expressions or cliches that pop out of the footballing folklore handbook.
Does Cazorla make a difference. Ha! That’s a funny one.
LikeLiked by 2 people
If I had to, after requirements gathering, strategy and procedural meetings with my manager, have to try and do my job with my job with my manager shouting instructions across the room all day, would drive me mental. So why is it seen as great when all the so called great strategists and coaches in football are the ones who spend the whole game screaming and waving their arms about ? There are upwards of 40,000 people screeching in the stands how are they supposed to be understood? There is a difference to make your presence felt by moving to the technical area maybe small adjustment and advice but not 90+ mins of traffic management surely? Sit your ass down and let the extremely well paid (Adult,experienced) professionals on the field sort it out in the main or are they not that good?
LikeLiked by 2 people
LikeLiked by 2 people
Biggest game of the season tonight! Because this is The Arsenal EVERY GAME is a big game.
Portant the plans of the manager, we need good effective games from a host of players, a IS in fact essential so we can keep players active who are first wicket down. With league and champions league games back to back, the players playing tonight carry the hopes of our chances to win any prize much less the big prizes.
COYG
LikeLike
Enjoy Carlos Alberto’s goal from the 1970 final one last time;
Ridiculous
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great goal, great player RIP. What a team that was…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Articles and comments over the last few days – fantastic.
Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LikeLike
11 of our 18 have represented Arsenal at youth level
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s an exciting eleven. AMN in CM.
LikeLike
C’mon the Gunners!
LikeLike
Can anyone recommend a live stream for the game?
LikeLike
Reading: Al-Habsi (c), Watson, Obita, L.Moore, Blackett, Kelly, Van den Berg, Evans, McCleary, Harriott, Samuel
LikeLike
Ryan @RyanTomes 13m13 minutes ago
Anyone moaned about the perfectly acceptable line up yet?
LikeLike
Corporal Jenks goes close!
LikeLike
Reading already hanging on somewhat. Fine fizzing start by Les Goonerss
LikeLike
lfc 1-0 thfc
LikeLike
Perez could have taken that on his own!
LikeLike
Unselfish from Lucas but sadly wayward with the lay off.
LikeLike
Dans les nuages par le bœuf
LikeLike
Beefy!
LikeLike
Allez le Bœuf
LikeLike
ox with a fine driven shot from a tight angle makes it 1-0
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maitland-Niles looks like another Iwobi. Excellent close control.
LikeLike
We’ve got a lot of youngsters brewing up at the moment.
Hope Larry gets a go today and turns into Lazarus and grabs a second half hatrick!
Beefys been getting on the score sheet a bit recently, good to see.
COYG!
LikeLike
Rosický pass from The Ox.
LikeLiked by 1 person
a deflected shot from Reading lands on roof of net with Martinez stranded
LikeLike
Wicked deflection – glad that skimmed over
LikeLike
A Tommy Hutchinson deflection, nearly, thank above not!
LikeLike
Mills – you’re showing your age. Tommy who?
*cough*
LikeLike
Has anyone any news on Per and when he might be back?
LikeLike
LOL!Tommy Hutchinson was in the Pinball wizard film …(smiley)
LikeLike
HT: 1-0 to the Arsenal
AFC the better team, a few near misses, Holding continues to impress. Great to see Jenkinson back. Maitland-Niles has impressed me. Reine-Adelaide with some nice bits of skill, just need to be in the game more, Iwobi and Lucas with lots of touches.
LikeLiked by 1 person