Arsenal are seeking a place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals this evening when they take on Crystal Palace at the Emirates.
Here are the official line-ups.
Arsenal: Raya, Partey, Timber, Kiwior, Tierney, Jorginho, Merino, Nwaneri, Sterling, Trossard, Jesus
Subs: Setford, Saliba, Gabriel, Kacurri, Lewis-Skelly, Odegaard, Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Crystal Palace: Henderson, Kporha, Chalobah, Lacroix, Guehi, Mitchell, Lerma, Hughes, Sarr, Eze, Mateta
Subs: Turner, Ward, Nketiah, Schlupp, Clyne, Kamada, Richards, Doucoure, Devenny
Mostly our 2/3 team, let’s hope for a miracle!
Looks super disjointed
Stan told Mikel to tank so we’d get a better draft pick…😝
A 2/3 team full of extremely talented players who have all shown either recently or some less recently the ability to perform against elite opposition much better opposition than Crystal Palace. The only worry about some of them is recent form, so let’s hope the spirit of the Carabao blows fire into their bellies like wind onto hot coals 🔥🔥
The worry, unfortunately for me is Mikel Arteta
Jesus!
I’m always surprised more wasn’t made of when GJ came up against Nick Pope.
Oh yay more partey at right back……..set pieces it is
Ahh, so we aren’t bothered about this cup. Ok.
What’s with all the downvotes?
This is legit a pretty weak team.
Because a weaker team than our first choice doesn’t make it necessarily a weak team, it’s definitely one good enough to beat CP, so I think the down votes are for the defeatist attitude.
2 minutes gone we are one nil down…
Hopefully the fans at the stadium are more aware than you that there’s such a thing as to “equalise” and what the duration of a football match is
H/T. One nil down and we can’t bring on all our usual starters. It’s not personal Ebo so don’t make it so.
Fair comment.
Palace have lost one game in their last nine. They will be so up for this.
We clearly aren’t bothered about this cup.
…as I was saying…
Less bothered about it than other competitions, 100%, aren’t you? That doesn’t mean not bothered about it. It’s all relative, not absolute as you try to make it. If Mikel started Saka, Odegaard and Saliba and one of them gets injured the pitchforks would be out for him, so I guess he can’t win regardless.
Top four is a trophy financially.
Lol
Still a strong set of players. Looking forward to seeing KT in our colours again – it’s been way too long. Look out for Ethan & Raheem setting each other up for their respective goals 🤞🏼
Arteta before kick off…
“Ok, KT you’re going to be inverting tonight.”
Silence….
…. before the whole dressing room erupts into raucous laughter.
“Just kidding, just kidding. Tommy P. You’re on the invert son.”
“The only thing KT will be inverting is the sleeves of his shirt” they giggled to each other.
And surprisingly, it looks as though Palace have named pretty much their entire best XI to start. Hope our boys can pull this one out. At least we have a very strong bench to call upon if necessary.
Only one change from their previous premier league game and it’s due to a suspension. Can they play the same side (with munoz back) in 3 days though?
Why are you voting down a fact about the palace lineup? I’ve only looked at who they have on the teamsheet and why they’ve made adjustments. If anything this makes our league fixture against them easier
And that’s how we exit the league cup, with a wimp of a team…
Wow that’s negative
Can Sterling stay on his feet out of possession or will it be a long night for partey at right back? Could be a serious problem for our midfield later in the season with the miles we are asking Thomas to run back there.
For a manager who hasn’t won much, one would think he would take cup competitions seriously. This selection is poor, most of them haven’t played together. Palace are fielding a near full strength team, but we’re resting key players for what? Maybe to win the community shield and count them as real trophies. SMDH
This group of players need to win something to get a feel of winning. Take this competition seriously Arteta
This kind of selection makes me nervous. I would rather go strong at the start and hope to rest players later.
Terrible line-up.
We needed to go strong for what was always going to be a very tough game.
That defence looks very fragile. KT hasn’t even played in a million years.
If we go out tonight fans will be furious.
They will fats. It’s a gamble. If it comes off, it’s wonderful. If not, get the pitch forks ready.
Team of full internationals in practically every position. Our first 11 haven’t set the world on fire in the last two so I’m fine with this
I think if they play for each other instead of selfishly (Jesus, Sterling please note), we still should be good enough. Two games a week makes heavy rotation a must.
Jesus selfish? One of the least selfish strikers who ever lived?
Unselfish to a fault almost
Line up not inspiring. Feels a little slapped-together. Let’s hope playing at home helps.
Oh yeah, Mmm. Don`t know what i was hoping for, but is it to many ch ch ch ch changes.
Always prefer going strong at the start, then taking players off once the game is safe, rather than throwing all the usual starters on when we’re chasing the game.
Anyway COYG!!
Trouble with that is when we don’t get ahead early it makes changes and rest difficult.
I understand that but the counter to that is we go 1-0 down as we’ve done. Then the opposition can sit back and we know we haven’t been great at playing through a block.
Then the first teamers have to come on and try and save the day. Putting in more of a shift and risking injury.
A lot of negativity. This is the same squad that trains with the manager. Same squad we all knew we were going in with. Changes are totally forgivable for me. Obviously Partey at RB sucks but that’s due to injuries. I’d have loved to have seen young Kolasinac (Kacurri) start. Where else would he rotate but this cup?? Also imagine, strong team, loss at weekend and we lose the final of the cup. Who reflects on a strong team then? COYG. We are winning this match
Erg….that line up doesn’t look too powerful…especially as Palace’s looks strong. And fast.
Got to keep the first eleven fresh for another second place finish I guess
Partey and Kiwior aa Ventre backs and Jesus and Sterling up front…Might as well give Palace a “walkover”.
This is – barring a player or two – CP’s first team! I don’t see this being an easy game for this makeshift Arsenal side.
There are lots of experienced players individually but I struggle to see them play as a unit.
Maybe Arteta is looking for some motivation for Saturday; a revenge perhaps.
Hopefully strong enough line up though tbh i would be worried playing Accrington with that one!
For all the chat I never thought I would see Tierney on the team sheet again. Good luck to him and the team.
It is a little condescending to say this a 2nd or 3rd team but I think it is appropriate for this tournament.
Goodbye Kiwoir
A bunch of rusty strangers playing together is a different look than Palace were expecting; will introduce some chaos into our play, which we actually need; invite Palace on and open up some space for our attack; and light a fire under some wobbly players, as in “this is your last chance, Raheem.” It just might work.
Shocking line up
This is not rotation. It’s capitulation. Arteta doesn’t rate carabao cup.
The second string play the same risk averse football with slightly less talent. Let’s hope we see more urgency after the break.
Let’s hope the gamble of throwing in the captain and Saliba pays off