Having seen a great undefeated run end after an abysmal performance at Southampton on Sunday, Arsenal return to action in the League Cup against arch rivals Spurs on a wet and gloomy Wednesday night. Prime stage for an electric Emirates atmosphere!
After comfortably dispatching Spurs in the league a few weeks back, the Gunners will be confident. Spurs will fancy it as well though having hit some decent form themselves. Confident from Champions League knockout qualification, and with some recent big wins behind them, Spurs will be looking for a fast start to quieten our home fans. However, having personally seen and felt the Emirates atmosphere during the last NLD, Emery's men should be well up for it...
Laurent Koscielny returned to action on Sunday and showcased some real rust in the legs which was part of Arsenal's ultimate down fall. Suspensions to Sokratis and Mustafi couldn't have come at a worse time in all honesty. However, both should be available for the cup clash. So, it could currently go either way in terms of shape; 3-4-3 or 4-2-3-1. There's also the other major question; does Emery deploy his big guns or let the squad players and kids have a go? It's extremely likely that we'll see a number of first team players start the game as, off the back of Sunday, a win is a must.
Hector Bellerin and Sead Kolasinac are being assessed ahead of the game for match fitness so both are doubts. Monreal returned to start at the weekend so is expected to start again tonight. Young Mavropanos, Holding and Welbeck remain long term absentees and whilst available from suspension, there are also question marks over Mustafi's fitness. Lichtsteiner has been confirmed as fit so he could start right back with Monreal left, and Koscielny and Sokratis in a back four should Mustafi not make it. If the German is available, Emery has the option of a back three which was executed so well in during this fixture in the league. Ahead, Xhaka is almost certain to return to his usual midfield birth alongside Lucas Torreira. Guendouzi should start from the bench after offering very little going forward against Southampton, whilst Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Alex Lacazette will all be fighting for a start. The Frenchman especially, needs to start and be given longer to score. He's an expert finisher but even experts sometimes need longer than a half to convert. After both scoring in this fixture (and with Lacazette changing the game), Aubameyang and Lacazette should start together in some capacity. We've seen Aubameyang wide left in the past, and this could happen again tonight.
Spurs should be worried about the status of their Manager now, having seen Manchester United part company with Jose Mourinho. Pochettino is one of the favourites for a Summer arrival and with no stadium, no money and no success (to date), Spurs could just be a stepping stone in the career of the Argentine. Player wise, Davison Sanchez and Juan Foyth have both returned to full training but Dembele, Aurier, and Wanyama remain out. NLD scrap-starter Eric Dier will seemingly also miss out due to appendicitis alongside longer term absentee Jan Vertonghen. The defence and base of midfield are missing some key players but make no mistake the front line is at full throttle. The likes of Kane, Dele, Son, Lucas and co are all fit and healthy and ready to strike. Arsenal again need to be at the top of their game to stop this Spurs side but have well and truly proved that with firepower from Lacazette and Aubameyang, they are more than capable of doing so.
Expected lineup:
GK: Petr Cech
CB: Shkodran Mustafi
CB: Laurent Koscielny
CB: Sokratis
RWB: Stephan Lichtsteiner
CM: Lucas Torreira
CM: Granit Xhaka
LWB: Nacho Monreal
RAM: Mesut Ozil
LAM: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
ST: Alex Lacazette
Prediction: A close affair with both teams scoring. Arsenal to edge it with the home advantage; 2-1.
@craigbennett10
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