Archive for February 23rd, 2007

The B Team

23 comments February 23rd, 2007

Whoever triumphs in Sunday’s final, this year’s Carling Cup will be remembered for an astonishing young Arsenal side, whose swashbuckling style has seen them outgun West Brom, Everton, Liverpool, and Tottenham on their way to Cardiff.

Arsene has long insisted that he would keep faith with his youngsters, and he confirmed this by stating that Henry, Lehmann, Ljungberg, and Gallas will all be out of the squad entirely. So just who will start for Arsenal’s “B-Team”:


Goalkeeper: Manuel Almunia’s form has been outstanding in both cup competitions, and for the first time in his Arsenal career he is being seriously considered as the long term replacement for Jens Lehmann. A strong display on Sunday would certainly help his case.

Full-backs: I think that if all our players were fit, we’d see Hoyte and Clichy. Hoyte has played regularly in the competition, whereas Clichy has been used sparingly as an impact substitute. However, the inexperienced Traore has struggled with pacy wingers like Lennon, so it’s a slight concern what Robben or Wright-Phillips might do against him. So like I say, were everybody fit, I think Hoyte and Clichy would start. But of course, they’re not fit. If Clichy doesn’t make it, Traore will be seeking advice, and if Hoyte too is out, then Johan Djourou will fill in at right-back.

Centre-backs: Kolo Toure will start, for his experience and his leadership skills. Alongside him will be either Philippe Senderos or Djourou. Obviously if Djourou plays at full-back, Senderos will start, but if Hoyte makes it then it may be a close call: Senderos has a famously difficult time against Didier Drogba, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see Djourou picked.

Central Midfield: Considering Chelsea play with a narrow midfield diamond, I think Arsene might at least start with three central midfielders: Diaby, Denilson, and the captain, Gilberto. The elder Brazilian will sit allowing the other two to break forward and create. It’s a dynamic three that did well against Tottenham. What’s more, you can always drop Walcott back and make it a four with Diaby on the left.

Wingers: The aforementioned Theo Walcott is likely to start having been rested against PSV, with Jeremie Aliadiere cutting in from the opposite flank.

Striker: Julio Baptista will be rewarded for his six goals in the competition with a lone striking berth. It’s not his natural position, but fortunately these personnel do give the option of changing to a 4-4-2 fairly simply. I just believe that Wenger will try and contain Chelsea in the first half, before bringing on the cavalry in the second.

Substitutes: Speaking of which, if this tournament has taught us anything, it’s the value of a strong bench. Come Sunday I expect the likes of Rosicky, Hleb, Fabregas and Adebayor to provide options from the sidelines. Those four alone are enough to change a game.

I’m both nervous and excited about the game. Above all else, I think the youngsters deserve the prize for the way in which they’ve performed thus far. If they play with the same skill and courage they did against Liverpool and Spurs, they will be victorious.


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