It is a well-known fact that the League Cup has never been a top priority for Arsenal, and Arsene Wenger normally uses it to give his reserves and youngsters the chance to play more regular football if they go far in the competition, which is not usually the case in recent seasons.
This season is different though as we have many more experienced players in our reserves, especially in our forward line, and the fact that they are getting used to each other after playing together for three Europa League games and one previous League Cup game and we have won every one. Even Wenger himself thinks this team could go further in the League Cup than normal. “That’s the luxury I have at the moment and the difficulty I have as well,” Le Prof said. “All these players do well, play well and they deserve to play.
“Fortunately, we have important games every week, so I can give competition to everybody. We have so much offensive force on the bench as well. It’s really a strong point of the club at the moment.
“I always used [the League Cup] to give a chance to young boys,” he added. “We went to the final with a very young team and nearly won it.
“I always focus on winning trophies in the Premier League and FA Cup domestically, and always used the League Cup as an education for our young players.
“But with this team I have the squad to go further, so let’s see. Let’s focus on winning the match against Norwich and then we’ll see where we will go.”
This is the team that I am predicting for this evening…
Macey
Debuchy, Elneny, Holding
Nelson, Coquelin, Willock, Maitland-Niles
Walcott, Wilshere, Giroud
That starting XI looks to have more than enough top class players and very promising youngsters to beat any Premier League reserve side and could maybe even win the League Cup and the Europa League, or at least get them into the latter stages of both competitions. If they stick together as a team surely they can only improve?
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