Arsenal play host to West Ham in today’s Carabao Cup Quarter-final, as we attempt to win the competition for the first time under Arsene Wenger.
The French boss has so far failed to lift the trophy, although he has consistently used the full breadth of his squad in the competition over the years. The same is expected from his line-up today also.
Wenger stated that players would be rested from the weekend’s starting XI, whilst also adding that Shkodran Mustafi will be saved for Liverpool on Friday, so it would be safe to expect our second-string to start the match.
Our rivals have enjoyed a huge upturn in fortunes since the arrival of David Moyes in East London. The Scottish boss has guided his side to pick up four points from two league matches against us and Chelsea, but surely they will also need to rotate in order to keep the squad fresh.
Predicted Arsenal XI:
Ospina
Debuchy Chambers Mertesacker Maitland-Niles
Willock Elneny Coquelin
Walcott Giroud Welbeck
This team should have more than enough ability and experience to take home the win, but you also have to expect resilience from a well-organised and confident team in West Ham.
If we fail to get an early goal, this could well turn into a scrappy affair, but Theo Walcott loves to open up defences in midweek, and I can see him breaking through in the opening 45 minutes, and the game should be much more open from then on.
I’m going for a tidy 3-1 win against our London rivals, with Theo bagging a brace on his return to action.
What are your predictions for tonight? Comfy win or scrappy encounter?
Pat J