On my way to the Emirates now. Just need two more wins in this tournament (or even a draw and a win) and we bag the first trophy . I want it to happen. COYG!
ps wish I hadn’t worn jeans - f***ing cold and wet already
We have enough good players to play solid teams in the FA and LCs. The other day Norgaard and MLS didn't even make the bench.
Not sure who mentioned kids but I don't think we'll be seeing any, even from the bench.
A rotated team, with very strong options on the bench. I'd play BW, CBs, one of Gabriel and Saliba and one of Calafiori and Mosquera. LB, Hincapie/MLS.
Midfield Norgaard, one of Rice or Zubimendi and Odegaard/Eze.
Looking at form, Manchester City have won 1 of their last six.
Who was the person here telling you not to worry when they were winning early in the season? Telling you that they have A LOT more points to drop this season.
It wasn't false confidence.. I watched them win games where they looked average at best, and a few times they won with Haaland alone as lower teams looked better.
There was someone here last week saying they'd barely drop points the rest of the way, because he looked at their remaining fixtures. Astute. Tha was before Tottenham.
Forget your fears of David Silva, Kompany, Aguero, Mahrez, Sane, etc. They're gone and Bernardo and Pep are next our the door. Everyone interior organization knows this. The new generation is not going to generational. Top four and perennial challengers at best. Nothing to fear.
We need to lay down a marker tonight and pretty sure Arteta will go with a very strong team and I would rather see Raya in goal but I doubt that will be the case.
A feisty match for sure and probably a few cards in the Chelsea direction.
One has to watch Rosenior as he has already learned how to make good subs at half time when in trouble.
Now we here Saka is out and Odegaard wasn't seen at training but in some ways it may be beneficial as teams tend to regard Saka as our main threat so they will be facing something else .
This is a classic case calling for normal, moderate rotation. Everyone here is always All or nothing. Stop overthinking and let the guys play. Win or lose tonight, it's most likely the players fault not the managers.
Agree pretty much.. we can still win with some moderate rotation and a 1 goal lead.... Not only that but what even is our best lineup? Not many people even agree what that is. The only thing people agree on is they do not want to see Rice get injured, but the man is competitive and robust so we have to let him try and win things when there is something on the line. And it's a semi-final against hated rival so there is something on the line.
Winning the League Cup in ‘87 kick-started Gorgeous George’s glorious reign (god bless Charlie Nic) so let’s see the same happen again 39 years later. It may be the least important trophy but winning can become a habit (and despite what Arsene may have thought no-one cares who finishes second).
We play 2X or 3x per week for the rest of the year, against brutal competition, AFC can't win them all.
Many EPL teams have an entire week to prepare for us, and AFC have to do this for 14+ games in a row. As AFC progresses the games more difficult not less.
It is called prioritizing, and giving players a rest.
If you do not think teams give players rest before the Super Bowl or the NBA championship games, then I can't help you, seriously.
It is not turning it on or off, but changing out the players to give some more minutes and others less so the team can be more competitive as the games get more challenging.
And if AFC win only the caribou cup this year and nothing else, regardless of how the rest of the games plays out, I couldn't care less, maybe not you, but me.
Earlier in the competition certainly, but drastic rotation in the semi when we’re at home and have a 1 goal advantage would have the potential to backfire morale-wise. I feel the next round of the FA Cup we can definitely rotate more, but with this one as we’re now in the semi I think we’re par the throwing away stage
Going the other way, overhype this game at home puts a lot of pressure on us, last time this happened and the team ran out of gas against manure.
I do NOT want to run out of gas this year!
Arteta's orthodoxy is always the "next one" and the players can "play 70 games."
He can't get out of his own shadow's way at times.
F this game, a nothing cup, and pennies on the dollar for the win against fatiguing our players or heaven forbid, another injury.
No one wins the quad-ever, not even the financially juiced up pups teams, Bayern in a 1 team league, nor Psg in a 1 team league, so it is not a realistic option, 40 to 1 odds at best, according the the betting houses, but it is not absolutely accurate and I feel much higher, not Leicester City higher, but close.
It is either this or that, choose one, either the caribou or the FA cup, not both as they are mutually exclusive events. It is a faux choice for our fearless leader and he better figure it out.
Do I want us to win games, that is a question not even worth asking, of course, but at what cost?
Play the youth-full stop.
If Arsenal cough up our EPL lead due to D's or L's in the next 7 games, it will not be an I told you so, as you many will already know what happened in their own minds.
Many here will argue the other way, and will have valid, logical points to support their views.
However, if we do not win either the EPL or CL this year and we could have if not for an injury in one of the competition for the smaller pieces of silverware, where will you be when the axes come out? Every game played in these competitions are times of rest and recovery for our very best, yes, players can get injured in the EPL or CL too, but they can't get injured in cup games they don't play!
AFC are 1 or 2 players away from tossing it all away due to injuries. We have seen this movie before.
Strongly disagree with this... very strongly. The time to decide to "throw the Cup" by playing youth has passed. It's Fucking Chelsea and it's a semi-final. Do you not remember them smacking us up in the Europa league final.. 4-1 and then celebrating on us like it was the Champions League final? Do you not remember Chelsea humiliating us in in the Cup final with Drogba? Sorry ... no we need to send the scum packing. This is the exact reason we built the squad out this season. Now make it count.
You're stuck with the failed approach of Wenger. Wenger who didn't win a European competition in 22 years has messed you up.
Gawd you're so effing annoying with this nonsense
There's no guarantee of anything in May if you throw away a chance to reach a cup final in March. You can throw this away and still not win the league.
What you're advocating for is the most retrogressive loser-centric drivel that exist
Don't watch
If we reach a cup final at Wembley, don't watch
If Arsenal win their first trophy in 5.5 years, don't watch
I for one, I'm so glad Arteta doesn't partake in this crap you're spewing
Guardiola won the 4-P and prioritized the Carabao cup every one of those four seasons.
Klopp on his way to winning big things, took this comp seriously
If you have been reading some of my posts, you know how I feel about the FA Cup.
It is the best cup by miles, and I enjoy other lower placed teams having a go at the top tier clubs. No other competition in any sport, that I know of, from around the world even comes close.
We are like minded on this!
Was just giving a way out for others who feel we have to win something this year, and feel that we have won the FA Cup many times, so now it is time to win the caribou cup, not my thinking, but many others.
Saka with a minor injury but Collings from Sun, says hope is he'll be back on time for the NLD.
The NLD is on Feb 22. He's been out for a few days already. Is that what they call the new minor injury at Arsenal? One month?! Fuckin hell...
Noni and Marti will play a lot then. Including the game against Leeds, that's 5 games in all comps before our visit to the toilet. Time to make it count, Nonzinho.
I'd be looking at our secondary wingers - Eze and Jesus, cause Tross is quite far from the form of his life.
Battle at the bridge indeed. Slight worry going forward with Merino going down is that we're basically gambling on Havertz and or Eze staying fit or in Eze's and Norgaard's case actually be used. Went from a team that was okay with picking up injuries here and there because the depth was there to now being in a position where we can't afford any injuries because we're done Nwaneri and Merino. Basically you're asking this manager team to look after and rotate it's players to an acceptable degree going forward and that's a bit of a coin flip with this lot if we're honest with ourselves
This disgusting Chelsea team beat up the Champion of Europe. They can take us as well, on their day and if we're not at it.
We'll be fielding a top team tonight, I agree. A loss wouldn't be the end of the world, Pool won just one trophy last season but that one was big enough. But we've got to start slaying the demons of our past. We need to finally pop the cork both figuratively and literally. Once we do, the floodgates will open and more will follow.
we also signed Jade Dixon, a CB from Stoke btw (18 so also going straight to u21s)
On my way to the Emirates now. Just need two more wins in this tournament (or even a draw and a win) and we bag the first trophy . I want it to happen. COYG!
ps wish I hadn’t worn jeans - f***ing cold and wet already
We have enough good players to play solid teams in the FA and LCs. The other day Norgaard and MLS didn't even make the bench.
Not sure who mentioned kids but I don't think we'll be seeing any, even from the bench.
A rotated team, with very strong options on the bench. I'd play BW, CBs, one of Gabriel and Saliba and one of Calafiori and Mosquera. LB, Hincapie/MLS.
Midfield Norgaard, one of Rice or Zubimendi and Odegaard/Eze.
Up front Martinelli, Jesus and Madueke.
Agreed
The players have a chance to go to a cup final in Wembley and someone is asking is to play the kids.
We have senior players that need minutes to get back their form.
We also have players who need minutes to build relationships with other key players
Looking at form, Manchester City have won 1 of their last six.
Who was the person here telling you not to worry when they were winning early in the season? Telling you that they have A LOT more points to drop this season.
It wasn't false confidence.. I watched them win games where they looked average at best, and a few times they won with Haaland alone as lower teams looked better.
There was someone here last week saying they'd barely drop points the rest of the way, because he looked at their remaining fixtures. Astute. Tha was before Tottenham.
Forget your fears of David Silva, Kompany, Aguero, Mahrez, Sane, etc. They're gone and Bernardo and Pep are next our the door. Everyone interior organization knows this. The new generation is not going to generational. Top four and perennial challengers at best. Nothing to fear.
(I put this up on the previous Post)
We need to lay down a marker tonight and pretty sure Arteta will go with a very strong team and I would rather see Raya in goal but I doubt that will be the case.
A feisty match for sure and probably a few cards in the Chelsea direction.
One has to watch Rosenior as he has already learned how to make good subs at half time when in trouble.
Now we here Saka is out and Odegaard wasn't seen at training but in some ways it may be beneficial as teams tend to regard Saka as our main threat so they will be facing something else .
Saka’s not QUITE there at the moment-so a break for him is probably a good thing. He’s not been top note this season- at any point.
Odegaard…well…I think we attack more directly,swiftly and fluidly without him.
He’s not an automatic starter anymore- Arteta’s let him know that this past couple of matches.
I think we’re better without both of those two at this moment in time.
I agree.
This is a classic case calling for normal, moderate rotation. Everyone here is always All or nothing. Stop overthinking and let the guys play. Win or lose tonight, it's most likely the players fault not the managers.
With a one goal aggregate lead? As long as we field our strongest back-6 -- I'm fine with almost any combo up front.
Agree pretty much.. we can still win with some moderate rotation and a 1 goal lead.... Not only that but what even is our best lineup? Not many people even agree what that is. The only thing people agree on is they do not want to see Rice get injured, but the man is competitive and robust so we have to let him try and win things when there is something on the line. And it's a semi-final against hated rival so there is something on the line.
Peds.. has been off his game ever since Big Vik... started banging in goals. hahaha Just saw the title... Battle at the Bridge... ummmm not exactly.
Winning the League Cup in ‘87 kick-started Gorgeous George’s glorious reign (god bless Charlie Nic) so let’s see the same happen again 39 years later. It may be the least important trophy but winning can become a habit (and despite what Arsene may have thought no-one cares who finishes second).
I went to both legs of the semi and the final- never to be forgotten!
I don't care, other than it would be a good season, but second 4 times is Buffalo Bills territory, and I would not wish that on my worst enemy.
Having grown up a Dolphins fan in the 70s/80s-- my wishes were granted 4x in the 90s.
Can you say Mercury Morris and Jake Scott??;-)
Can you imagine if Chelsea comes to the Emirates and slap us up because we played the kids, like the resident genius is advocating for
There goes your momentum and narratives are redrawn.
Can you imagine the stadium environment; another semifinal loss checked off...Arsenal bottling company is at it again. ... what will the vibe be?
The idea that elite teams can turn form and standards, on and off, like a spigot, exists on the internet only.
Bro,
We play 2X or 3x per week for the rest of the year, against brutal competition, AFC can't win them all.
Many EPL teams have an entire week to prepare for us, and AFC have to do this for 14+ games in a row. As AFC progresses the games more difficult not less.
It is called prioritizing, and giving players a rest.
If you do not think teams give players rest before the Super Bowl or the NBA championship games, then I can't help you, seriously.
It is not turning it on or off, but changing out the players to give some more minutes and others less so the team can be more competitive as the games get more challenging.
And if AFC win only the caribou cup this year and nothing else, regardless of how the rest of the games plays out, I couldn't care less, maybe not you, but me.
Earlier in the competition certainly, but drastic rotation in the semi when we’re at home and have a 1 goal advantage would have the potential to backfire morale-wise. I feel the next round of the FA Cup we can definitely rotate more, but with this one as we’re now in the semi I think we’re par the throwing away stage
As I said earlier prioritize.
If AFC go for all 4 there is a high probability that all will not end well.
You have stated your choice, you would rather go all in in the caribou at the expense of the FA Cup, or maybe you want both;-)
If we play with fear and pressure like manutd game we'll lose this. Need to go out and play our A game.
Going the other way, overhype this game at home puts a lot of pressure on us, last time this happened and the team ran out of gas against manure.
I do NOT want to run out of gas this year!
Arteta's orthodoxy is always the "next one" and the players can "play 70 games."
He can't get out of his own shadow's way at times.
F this game, a nothing cup, and pennies on the dollar for the win against fatiguing our players or heaven forbid, another injury.
No one wins the quad-ever, not even the financially juiced up pups teams, Bayern in a 1 team league, nor Psg in a 1 team league, so it is not a realistic option, 40 to 1 odds at best, according the the betting houses, but it is not absolutely accurate and I feel much higher, not Leicester City higher, but close.
It is either this or that, choose one, either the caribou or the FA cup, not both as they are mutually exclusive events. It is a faux choice for our fearless leader and he better figure it out.
Do I want us to win games, that is a question not even worth asking, of course, but at what cost?
Play the youth-full stop.
If Arsenal cough up our EPL lead due to D's or L's in the next 7 games, it will not be an I told you so, as you many will already know what happened in their own minds.
Many here will argue the other way, and will have valid, logical points to support their views.
However, if we do not win either the EPL or CL this year and we could have if not for an injury in one of the competition for the smaller pieces of silverware, where will you be when the axes come out? Every game played in these competitions are times of rest and recovery for our very best, yes, players can get injured in the EPL or CL too, but they can't get injured in cup games they don't play!
AFC are 1 or 2 players away from tossing it all away due to injuries. We have seen this movie before.
Strongly disagree with this... very strongly. The time to decide to "throw the Cup" by playing youth has passed. It's Fucking Chelsea and it's a semi-final. Do you not remember them smacking us up in the Europa league final.. 4-1 and then celebrating on us like it was the Champions League final? Do you not remember Chelsea humiliating us in in the Cup final with Drogba? Sorry ... no we need to send the scum packing. This is the exact reason we built the squad out this season. Now make it count.
Your opinion mate.
Will ask you how you feel about this after the Sunderland and Brighton games. If we win those great, but not, not so great.
I also remember something worse, Arsene's 1000th game.
"Play the youth-full stop."
You're stuck with the failed approach of Wenger. Wenger who didn't win a European competition in 22 years has messed you up.
Gawd you're so effing annoying with this nonsense
There's no guarantee of anything in May if you throw away a chance to reach a cup final in March. You can throw this away and still not win the league.
What you're advocating for is the most retrogressive loser-centric drivel that exist
Don't watch
If we reach a cup final at Wembley, don't watch
If Arsenal win their first trophy in 5.5 years, don't watch
I for one, I'm so glad Arteta doesn't partake in this crap you're spewing
Guardiola won the 4-P and prioritized the Carabao cup every one of those four seasons.
Klopp on his way to winning big things, took this comp seriously
So has every manager of note, not called Wenger
Don't read my post mate.
"Loser-centric, no guarantee of anything in May," is a weak attempt of an attack on me, and really don't care for it.
Klopp won 1 title, pup was competing in a different times', this is not the same nor can it be. The league is tougher and more challenging than ever.
Seriously, I am supposed to jump up and down for winning the caribou cup? I know I am not out of my f'n mind friend.
If the win makes you satisfied, great, but it's not even on my radar, at all.
My take is just a different take, not better or worse than yours.
However, I know that all this quad bs talk will most likely be the death of something great this year.
Stop throwing out straw arguments
The only people talking about quadruples are prepubescent kids who are still being breast fed
Any one with any adult footie knowledge knows you approach every game with seriousness
You're the only one who is advocating we throw a cup semi final at home, when we have a one goal advantage in the tie.
Advocating that "we play the youth full stop" is asking us to throw the game.
Better to jump up and down to celebrate a trophy than to do the surrender monkey business on your knees.
Will help you; Arteta has not proven he can control himself yet, this is his last chance, and his best one.
Cala, Hincapie, White, Saka, Kai, Mosquera, Timber, Ode, and now Merino are all wobbly.
They can't handle 2-3 games a week, and this has been proven for 6 years+.
Play MLS, Ode, Salmon, Herriman-Anous and some others in this game at least at 60 minutes or the team will suffer the consequences.
You can either pay the ferryman now or later, but you will pay him.
Sorry mate - strongly disagree…the League Cup and FA are not on the same footing. At all.
The FA Cup is the oldest cup in the English league- waaay above the League cup.
Jonnygunner,
If you have been reading some of my posts, you know how I feel about the FA Cup.
It is the best cup by miles, and I enjoy other lower placed teams having a go at the top tier clubs. No other competition in any sport, that I know of, from around the world even comes close.
We are like minded on this!
Was just giving a way out for others who feel we have to win something this year, and feel that we have won the FA Cup many times, so now it is time to win the caribou cup, not my thinking, but many others.
Touché my American friend 👍🏻🤠
Just no shitbird moments-- like the two we served-up for Garnacho.
We smother them, we move on. That simple.
Kepa…..
Saka with a minor injury but Collings from Sun, says hope is he'll be back on time for the NLD.
The NLD is on Feb 22. He's been out for a few days already. Is that what they call the new minor injury at Arsenal? One month?! Fuckin hell...
Noni and Marti will play a lot then. Including the game against Leeds, that's 5 games in all comps before our visit to the toilet. Time to make it count, Nonzinho.
I'd be looking at our secondary wingers - Eze and Jesus, cause Tross is quite far from the form of his life.
Battle at the bridge indeed. Slight worry going forward with Merino going down is that we're basically gambling on Havertz and or Eze staying fit or in Eze's and Norgaard's case actually be used. Went from a team that was okay with picking up injuries here and there because the depth was there to now being in a position where we can't afford any injuries because we're done Nwaneri and Merino. Basically you're asking this manager team to look after and rotate it's players to an acceptable degree going forward and that's a bit of a coin flip with this lot if we're honest with ourselves
Win the damn thing. I want to see Big Gab happy. Any kind of trophy would make him score even more from set pieces.
Losing in a coin toss final, is one thing.
Losing at home, to a disgusting Chelsea team, whilst leading the tie, is totally different.
It could hurt us in more ways than one.
Arteta will go strong tonight.
My disgusting reference, is aimed at their horrible players. Not their ability.
Agree it’s time.
I was at the ‘93 final’s against Wednesday.
Feels like a lifetime ago.
I was living back in my native Wales- Swansea, watching that match!
That was a life time ago!
I moved to Essex that year and have been in the East of England ever since.
Mind you- I got to visit Highbury a lot more then,I loved that ground.
The smell of onions from the burger wagons is so nostalgic- even when you go to see us play nowadays.
Got it. I agree. Had fun watching Adama slapping them solo one by one in the weekend.
"Feels like a lifetime ago."
Bout god damn time...
This disgusting Chelsea team beat up the Champion of Europe. They can take us as well, on their day and if we're not at it.
We'll be fielding a top team tonight, I agree. A loss wouldn't be the end of the world, Pool won just one trophy last season but that one was big enough. But we've got to start slaying the demons of our past. We need to finally pop the cork both figuratively and literally. Once we do, the floodgates will open and more will follow.