Young Guns Aim To Turn Twenty-One
Jan 8th, 2008 by 'holic
A phone call or two today confirms I ruffled a few lillywhite feathers last night. I love it when they bite, although in the battle of wits it is perhaps unfair to challenge unarmed opponents! I think they missed the ‘tongue in cheek’ categorisation.
As I write it is just twenty-four hours before an Arsenal side of some description will face Tottenham looking to set up a second consecutive Carling Cup Final appearance, and extend their unbeaten run of twenty games against the team from N17. Arsene Wenger has already confirmed, “it will be a young side maybe with one or two experienced players”.
Tottenham also lose some players who may have featured at some stage. Didier Zokora is off to the African Cup of Nations, while Tom Huddlestone is suspended. Since neither has produced the goods in previous meetings between the clubs this may not be a disadvantage to the visitors. From what we saw at the Grove just before Christmas young O’Hara may be a better player for them in midfield anyway.
Significant in their eyes is the fact that Ledley King is back in the side, and it is true they should have more experience, man for man, than the hosts. That was the case last season as well though, and we all know what happened then.
Arsenal will field the young Pole, Lukasz Fabianski, in goal. In front of him we are likely to see Philippe Senderos and Johann Djourou alongside possibly Justin Hoyte and Armand Traore.
Up front it is likely that Nicklas Bendtner and Eduardo will be given a chance to develop their partnership, although Gooners will be delighted to see Robin van Persie back in the squad after injury. My guess would be he will start on the bench.
If I am right about the side so far that means a couple of experienced heads could be included in midfield. Perhaps Gilberto will get a second consecutive outing, we shall see.
The ‘holic pound is not yet placed. In all honesty I’ve been swaying one way, then the other. I could make a powerful argument for the visitors based on the fact that this is probably their only opportunity to claim European football next season. The FA Cup draw means they will have to survive a trip to Old Trafford if they are to make the last sixteen, and they haven’t even beaten Reading in the third round yet!
We have the evidence of over eight years of Tottenham failures in this fixture to suggest they have a ‘mental block’ that was borne out at the Grove in December, when I thought they produced their best performance against us for many moons, only to miss a penalty that would have earned them a point.
That’s it. I have persuaded myself. I am looking for lightening to strike twice and will pump the golden coin on 2-1 to Arsenal, (8.6-1 at Betfair looks tempting). With Adebayor not likely to feature and grab his customary goal or two against the old foe I think I will avoid the ‘first goalscorer’ market. You know, it just might be one of ‘them’, but don’t panic if it is.
Have a great night.
9 Responses to “Young Guns Aim To Turn Twenty-One”
The big question for me is whether Diarra plays…
Just a quick update for ‘first goalscorer’ punters. William Hill have Eduardo at 6-1. Must be a mistake? Guess where I’m going in the morning!
‘holic you mean you don’t have an online account? What kind of a gambler are you? Sounds good at 6-1 though!
My main worry is our defence – with Djourou not having had enough time to settle back in, and the way that Traore looked hustled at Burnley is what worries me, as well as Gilberto’s rustiness. I would prefer Diarra’s toughness in the centre rather than Denilson’s guile to start with. Fingers crossed for tomorrow!
Dont you worry about Traore, he’s a gael clichy in the making, Wenger seems to have a knack for finding superb left backs. Anyways as far as centre mid is concerned i wouldn’t be too surprised if its denilson and diarra. And I keep waiting for Wenger to shift Diaby over to the centre mid position, he looks as though he has so many ‘vieira’ qualities.
Fingers crossed for tomorrow, as someone just said the yids will be pinning their euro hopes on this cup.
although im confident in aour defence, I can see a few goal’s in tomorrows game; without the experienced likes of gallas and toure Berbatov et al will be a massive task. And the form of bendtner and Eduardo can only mean more goals. I’ve got this down as a 3:2 type scoreline in arsenals favour, maybe higher.
Word’s out that “God’s grace to football” Diarra is dropped from the squad
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2237520,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=5
Later D, hope you like Lyon, cause you ain’t going to the scum you fucking child.
Thanks Mondo. I was told on Monday he would not play tonight, but my source was even less reliable than a Guardian journalist! You just know from past experience that he has disappointed Wenger, and that is a foolish thing to do when you are in his situation.
Shame about the Diarra situation… doesn’t bode well for him does it? *sigh*
Mondo and siren, welcome to ‘holic.
Everybody else. I cannot believe my money is riding on a 6/1 substitute! In the words of Victor Meldrew, ‘I don’t believe it!’
*yawn*… got five hours of sleep and now I have to go pretend to be a good daughter and have lunch with my Dad – the Man U fan (yes, I’m a rebel)…
You’ll never beat the Arsenal!