Arsenal are set to field a (so called) weakened side in tonight's Carling Cup Semi Final 1st Leg.
I say 'so called' because a squad that includes Julio Baptista, Theo Walcott, Djourou - all who went to the world cup surely is not exactly weak.
Tottenham Manager Martin Jol says that he cannot afford to do the same and field a weakened side. He may swap 2-3 players around but I expect him to maintain the core of the team
I think Tottenham will want to take a great advantage as possible to the Emirates Stadium, while Arsenal's 2nd String team will want to continue with their quite impressive run. I'm sure Wenger wouldn't mind sending the same time against Chelsea if they get through.
If Tottenham play anything close to how they played away in their previous FA cup game before their 4-0 replay win, they shall be made to pay dearly.
Arsenal will have to be less porous. Despite beating Liverpool 6-3 in the previous round, they conceded 3 goals.
I expect Wenger to go for containment in the first half, perhaps an early goal, and since they generally pick up pace towards the end of each half, to try and nick a goal.
Jol will go all out to win the game at White Hart Lane.
This is a bit hard to predict. It's a 180 minute game really. I expect though at the end of it that the Gunners face Chelsea in the final.
Player to watch: Julio Baptista - after his 4 goal salvo against Liverpool, he will be eager to prove to AW that he deserves to start on the first XI
antics to keep an eye: AW seems to have regained his calm composure; Martin Jol usually doesn't do the Mourinho thing so this could be quiet on the touchlines. However these are two of the most fierce rivals in England. ManU vs Arsenal may be sizzling, but Tottenham vs Arsenal can quite easily boil over.. No Eboue starting to roll over the place though.
My verdict: Tottenham 1-2 Arsenal - Possibly close, but Arsenal may decide to have some of the heavy guns on the bench.
Kick off time: 2000Hrs GMT
5 comments:
dude...
il be sassing out the african-contested midfield of ivorian zokora and cameroonian song..this will be sumptuous according to me what do you guys think?
generally i would love to see a nail-biting end but i gues the man u -vs- arsenal was one of its kind.
The only big guns in the line-up could be the likes of Hleb,Adebayor,Julio,Hoyte and off course Walcott is now a big gun. Wenger is determined to play the Young team all round.The reason am calling the 5 big guns is because they have featured in premier league big arenas. In the heart of defence its likely to have the swiss pair. Toure will most likely not be played thus possibly Almunia or Flamini Likely to captain the game. I predict a 2-3 victory for gunners kids.Thats based on the defence flaws witnessed against Liverpool.Otherwise i hope it will be a good game to watch.
Looks like this is Wenger's Squad for the first leg (slightly 'stronger' ?):
2. Abou Diaby
4. Francesc Fabregas
5. Kolo Toure
6. Philippe Senderos
9. Julio Baptista
13. Alexander Hleb
15. Denilson
16. Mathieu Flamini
21. Mart Poom
24. Manuel Almunia
27. Emmanuel Eboue
30. Jeremie Aliadiere
31. Justin Hoyte
32. Theo Walcott
43. Mark Randall
45. Armand Traore
Johan Djourou, Alex Song, Matthew Connolly and Henri Lansbury left out from the Liverpool game.
For Tottenham
Robinson, Cerny, Alnwick, Chimbonda, Lee, Dawson, Gardner, Assou-Ekotto, Zokora, Davids, Lennon, Keane, Berbatov, Defoe, Murphy, Ghaly, Malbranque, Huddlestone, Ziegler.
Baptista scores 3 goals ;) - Just that he got one wrong and flicked it into the wrong net.
Tottenham now have a large mountain to climb with. Arsenal at home is a tough prospect, considering that despite leading 2-0 at home before succumbing to 2 Beast goals.. Both goals were as a result of defensive errors and were not created as such.
Tottenham's squad is also rather thin and with Berbatov out injured (hopefully not for too long), they looked rather short of ideas. It also seems that playing Robbie Keane and Defoe on the same team as strikers usually doesn't work.
I still think Arsenal wins over both legs. it's 'half time though'
dude i feel u but t'seems we all fell short on who was going to start..i was suprised to see esp in the mid:::>> walcot-denilson-cesc-diaby...???diaby was playing left wing and was very lousy..though he has just come back from injury..
i predict arsenal to go thru come the 2nd leg.
now wats with arsenal and the injuriesssssss..its becoming a fad or what??
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