Arsene Wenger has given a team update ahead of tomorrow night’s EFL Cup game against Reading.
The manager is set to mix it up a bit after the 0-0 draw against Boro at the weekend, and although Aaron Ramsey is back in full training this game has come too soon for him.
However, it looks as if we’ll get a blast of The Jeff, a dollop of Carl Jenkinson, and a smear of Rob Holding amongst others.
“It will be a similar squad to against Nottingham Forest,” he told the official site. “We will have Gabriel, Holding, Jenkinson will be back and will play.
“Jeff Reine-Adelaide will play, otherwise I think Iwobi, Lucas, Oxlade-Chamberlain will also play. Gibbs – who captained the team at Forest – will do it again on Tuesday.”
And on Giroud and Ramsey, he continued, “I think Olivier will be included, but for Aaron it is too early although he is back in full training now.”
So, possible team could be: Martinez, Jenkinson, Holding, Gabriel, Gibbs, Elneny, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Iwobi, The Jeff, Lucas, Giroud
We’ll find out more tomorrow.
In other news: Mourinho is still a c*nt.
Face like a smacked arse on Sunday 🙂
Tomorrow night will provided a good opportunity for Lucas and Ox to get a full 90mins again. I hope Giroud gets a go too.
Why there’s no Ospina?
I think he should play instead of Martinez
Why? Martinez played last time.
But Ospina is better
More reliable, remember last time we face Reading and Martinez was playin?
Not sayin that he’s a bad GK, i like him a lot, but i think it would be better to see Ospina
Martinez is the League Cup designated keeper.
Ospina probably has CL and FA Cup given he maintains good form.
Cech is designated for the Premier League, given he maintains form.
Pretty sure all three were made known of this by the manager before the season started and decided to stay at the club based on this. However much you would like it, Ospina is not going to start tomorrow.
But what has happened with Debuchy
yeah, and what about SanoGoal? Where is he?
I have new office in basement…………I believe you have my stapler?
Unfortunately Debuchy has been out of action the last few months with a severe bout of cuntitis.
Sorry have I missed something why is Debuchy a c*nt?
How times have changed. You only have to look a short time back and a lot of those would be starting 1st team players, rather than getting game time in the league cup.
Happy days
He says Giroud may be ‘included’, which I took to mean included in the squad. I’d personally still expect to see Lucas start up front with The Jeff, Iwobi, and the Ox behind him.
No Akpom?
From the bench surely. No ways he’s getting ahead of Lucas.
We need a bit of continuity at the front, which is why Iwobi and Ox are in.
Akpom injured..
Thought I saw him on the Arsenal.com photo shoot of practice ahead of EFL cup gMe.
Hes been injured for the last few weeks.
Just like to say fair play to Gibbs, bloggs and a few others on here were (or my perception of their thinking is) under the impression that he would move on to get regular first team football. We were linked to other left backs preseason, but I always thought it a bad idea. I could be wrong but I never read anything that suggested he was after a move himself? He’s arsenal through and through, and I think he is really pushing Nacho at the mo. A very healthy LB position. Glad he’s here, respect for being trusted as captain.
Great points! But can we rely on him as a first choice LB with his injury record? That’s always been his problem. He’s very likeable and gives his all every time he plays and has not done a “Debuchy” about his lack of playing time.
The Sp*ds model of rotating full-backs has done them well so maybe we move in that direction with Monreal getting up there in age. I still think we’ll be in the hunt for a younger LB option this summer.
Speakin’ on LB, i’ve read something about Pep Guardiola, wantin’ to take a LB here from Brazil, from the Club i support here (CR Flamengo) which would be a terrible blow for us here, cuz he’s the best LB in our League, he’s only 20 years old, plays for Brazil U-23s
Really gifted player, but if we lost him, i wish he went to Arsenal, it would fit like a glove, Nacho isnt gettin any youger, so he could learn a few things with him and with Gibbs.
Have any of u all, heard or read anything about that?
We needed a LB regardless because Nacho is starting to slow down. HE’S 30 and has been playing at a very high level for 18 months now.
Need to start looking for a replacement soon.
30!!!!! Oh my god, take him out the back and shoot him.
Gibbs has saved our season many many times. That tackle against westbrom comes to mind. Also the FA cup final goal line clearance against Hull. Many such instances. I love the fact that he scored against spuds last year.I can’t imagine a successful season without gibbs playing a part in it.He is our boy. He may not be talented enough but he is arsenal through and through.
Still no news on Cazorla’s injury?
Sadly no ):
Surely Iwobi should be rested?
Hasn’t Gedion been apparently training with the first team? Best time to introduce him I reckon.
Love that we can run out a lineup like AW is talking about for the Reading game. It’s a good indicator of the depth we have this year. So important to lesson injuries and keep from burning out players. Actually feels strange to have this after the last few years. IMO, could really be the difference in this year’s end results.
My theory is that yaya sanogo never existed and that we all collectively willed him into existence, it had been 9 years since a trophy and we were all in an emotionally vulnerable place. Like morpheus said “Our mind made him real”
I totally believe that, i mean it would need 60 thousand minds to design a giraffe on wheels doing that dance
This is why I mentioned that we need the full squad to be at top level for us because we compete on 3 major fronts. Its not a question of Giroud or Alexis, Ox or Iwobi, Granit or Coquelin. We need different weapons in the Arsenal and we will need rotation. There are those long international breaks (where many of our players are involved) and there are games thick and fast almost every 2 to 3 days. Of course you expect we will be physically less so than a team that isn’t in champion’s League or whom many of the… Read more »
I’ve maybe a bit of a soft spot for Reading as they’re my local team, but I feel there’s a risk of a bit of complacency here. They’re not going to blow you away, but they’re not mugs either and in Jaap Stam they have a manager who knows how to defend. He will certainly have noted the way the Middleborough and Burnley games played out, so please let’s not underestimate a potentially difficult opponent.
Of course we always want to win, but it’s the League Cup. We will (and should) play the kids and give minutes to squad players rather than risk our core starters.
This is for all intents and purpose a secondary cup. The Title, CL and FA cup take precedent. Martinez in goal. Ospina for the other cups. Jenkinson and Gibbs at fullback. Thought Gibbs did well recently. Maybe given a good performance, he may take the number one spot as he has better pace than MOnreal who seems to be identified as the weak link by most teams now. Likely Gabriel and HOlding holding. In central mid, would like to see Elneny get more game time. I don’t buy into the hype many like to shower on him. He is a… Read more »
Will be great to see Jenkinson in an Arsenal kit again playing for us. Not ever going to beat out Bellerin, but have always liked him and his commitment to the club.