• The Arsenal

  • Carabao Cup | Arsenal Vs Leeds (H) | Tues 26th | 1945 | Sky Sports

There are two good things for this game: 1) it's on Sky Sports, so no scratching around for non-existent streams, as was the case for the last round, and 2) the clubs have voted to allow 20-man squads and 5 substitutions for the remainder of the competition. So, there's a good chance one or two of the exciting youngsters - I'm thinking Patino and Omari Hutchinson, in particular - might make the bench, and if we're winning well, they might get on and make their debuts. Which would be very exciting!

I'm not sure how strong Arteta will go exactly, but I suspect we'll see quite a few changes. Something like this:

Leno
Cedric Holding Mari Tavares
AMN Elneny
Pépé Ødegaard Martinelli
Nketiah

Given that we have a really difficult and important game away at Leicester on Saturday, it's the early kick-off too, we've surely got make a load of changes? I know we can hardly be snobby given our struggles, but a loss for the second string here would be easier to swallow than the first XI getting turned over Saturday. Arteta has gone very strong in the competition thus far though, so who knows? And it's not like resting the big hitters tomorrow guarantees anything at the weekend. It's a tough one to get right for Arteta because any loss for this fragile group would be damaging right now.

My reasoning re selection is that Leno's surely in need of some game time, and I think a cup-tie under the floodlights is a good game for him to come back into.

I also think Tomiyasu, White and Gabriel could do with a bit of a rest; they've played a lot and had to battle hard in most games too. I'd go Cedric over Chambers at right back, the Portugese was very good in the last round, and I'd go Holding and Pablo Mari at centreback ahead of Chambers too. Tavares can play here and Tierney can come back in against Leicester. I think Nuno could play again on Saturday if he has to anyway, he looks a superb athlete. No Kolasinac!

Definitely rest Partey, we need him fit and firing on Saturday. I guess the choice then is who out of Lokonga and Ødegaard plays against Leicester? I suspect it'll be the former that gets the nod, and so that gives the Norwegian the chance to have a run out in his favoured Number 10 position against Leeds.

Smith Rowe and Saka should not be risked. Yes, they could probably manage to play both games, but it's just not worth the risk in my view. With that said, Pépé is a given, especially considering his recent omissions from PL starting XIs. And it seems to me Martinelli is absolutely champing at the bit again, so he gets a chance to stake a claim for more minutes in the League.

There's surely no chance Aubameyang will be risked, especially after limping off with cramp against Villa, whilst Lacazette is perma-gassed and I reckon is nailed on to start against Leicester. So, that leaves Nketiah or Balogun, and for me, it's Eddie that gets the nod. He's looked super sharp any time I've seen him, and though many will argue Balogun should get preference given he has signed his contract, Nketiah, in my opinion, not only deserves a chance to show what he can do, but  more importantly, is the better player of the two right now.

Subs
Ramsdale, Chambers, Gabriel, Lokonga, Patino, Hutchinson, Smith Rowe, Balogun, Lacazette (No Kolasinac!... wishful thinking though, he'll definitely get on the bench)

I fancy this man to be the star, it's time he put his name back up in lights:

Anyway... Come on The Arsenal!

Great OP.

I’d go with Patino in for Elneny, I know it won’t happen but I find it hard to see the value in playing someone who has no future here. I’d go with Balogun for Eddie for the same reason, but that’s probably also unlikely.

goon wrote:

I’d go with Patino in for Elneny, I know it won’t happen but I find it hard to see the value in playing someone who has no future here. I’d go with Balogun for Eddie for the same reason, but that’s probably also unlikely.

If we never played anyone who appeared to have no future at the club then Balogun wouldn't have gotten a nod last season either though, and probably wouldn't still be here now as a consequence.

The best way to convince anyone to extend is probably to give them a chance when they show they deserve it, and I think we should have done that more often with Eddie over the past two months, not less.

Either way, I like Ricky's lineup, but I also think we play so few games now because we're out of everything that there's really no excuse to not field our key players. Go with the ones who'd start in the league unless they're knackered. Saka and Smith-Rowe have legitimate reasons to rest a bit. Partey, Ramsdale and Tomiyasu don't. AMN should be starting on merit in my book.

I think Eddie is well past that point, i don’t think token mins or even the odd start would do anything for him, he needs regular game time and starts and it seems he’s even beyond the point where he wants to get that on loan.

Proper decent OP Ricky - nice one. I like the look of that team too, but I also wouldn't be surprised if players like Gabriel and Auba start. Striker is a funny one at the moment isn't it. Laca will be to knackered, Eddie doesn't seem to have a future here and Balogun might be just a bit raw still. We do want to win so Eddie probably does just get the nod.

Both Saka and ESR need a rest, so I hope they never feature even as subs.

We have no Europe and this is an opportunity for a trophy. We are not getting top 4 so might as well play our best team here. We are in no position to be turning up our nose up at our best shot for silverware.

It's not like we have a squad full of internationals either so they'll be getting rest during the internationals breaks as well.

First choice XI with minimal rotation - maybe a game for Ode and Pepe but that should be the extent of it.

We had 14 players out on international duty for the last round of internationals, so you're not right about that. Literally all of the big hitters we would want to play in both games were off playing for their countries.

I think Arteta will probably go about as strong as you suggest though, but Leeds is always a high-tempo and physical game. It will impact our chances at the King Power Saturday lunchtime. I'm not going to rule out getting into the top 4 by any means, why would we at this stage? It's not like the other contenders for 4th spot look great. And Leicester just whooped Man United - I think at least some rotation would be smart.

banduan wrote:

Both Saka and ESR need a rest, so I hope they never feature even as subs.

I think they will both come on as subs if we are not winning the game.

It will be a strong team with almost no youngsters being involved as per Arteta usual policy.

Good op.

Too bad this cup doesn’t give EL qualification anymore, would've actually been valuable for us.

Ricky1985 wrote:

We had 14 players out on international duty for the last round of internationals, so you're not right about that. Literally all of the big hitters we would want to play in both games were off playing for their countries.

I think Arteta will probably go about as strong as you suggest though, but Leeds is always a high-tempo and physical game. It will impact our chances at the King Power Saturday lunchtime. I'm not going to rule out getting into the top 4 by any means, why would we at this stage? It's not like the other contenders for 4th spot look great. And Leicester just whooped Man United - I think at least some rotation would be smart.

That 14 included Elneny, Kolasinac, Hein, Pepe and Leno who barely play for us. The only first choice players we have who are also first choice for their country are Auba, Partey, Tierney and Tomiyasu. This is a pretty big advantage that we have and it gives us an opportunity to be playing our best XI pretty much all the time and I believe that is what we should be doing especially when we don't also have Europe to worry about. 

I see what you're saying but I'd much rather take progress to the next round and a loss to Leicester versus the opposite. I guess that is largely due to what our respective expectations are for Arsenal in the league this season. No right or wrong - let's see what Arteta does. 

Leicester are just as poor as us. Play a strong team in both and win both.

There's a squad management/dynamic angle that has to be considered, it's not just about whether or not the best XI can play. You need to keep your squad happy and also ready to contribute. Leeds will probably field a mixed side too.

Clrnc wrote:
banduan wrote:

Both Saka and ESR need a rest, so I hope they never feature even as subs.

I think they will both come on as subs if we are not winning the game.

It will be a strong team with almost no youngsters being involved as per Arteta usual policy.

I don't doubt that, just hope it's not all first teamers.

Leeds are rubbish at the moment so I think we can afford to a mixed team. I wouldn't mind seeing Laca start up top, get more minutes in his legs. He doesn't do more than an hour anyway so I think match sharpness trumps fatigue for him at the moment. Really don't want to see Elneny but that seems inevitable. Ode and Pepe have it all to prove if they get a start.

Wonder if this will be a 343 more often than not. Holding bob 2.0 makes debut

Honestly don't understand the point of giving Kola minutes...so why is he starting!? Only thing I can think of is that Tierney's injury is bad so we don't want to risk Tavares getting injured.

Other than that, broadly the team I expected/hoped (although would probably also rather give minutes to Balogun over Nketiah at this point for the same reason).

Interesting that Salah has been rewarded for his recent good form. Shame no Patino.

Just wondering that too. Seems very weird to drop him 2 games in a row otherwise, and to risk ESR. I really think even if Ode is injured ESR shouldn't be starting this match.