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Official Arsenal team to face Manchester City – Martinelli starts

It is a relief that we are not playing a Premier League match this evening, a distraction is required and the Carabao Cup is just that.

It is almost impossible to make a case for an Arsenal win against Pep Guardiola’s men at the Emirates tonight but that was also said in the FA Cup semi-finals and we all know what happened there.

It is a very different scenario right now, especially for Arsenal but that does not mean that the lads cannot pull off another shock.

This is the Arsenal team to start against the Citizens.

Do you think this team is good enough to give City a hard time this evening?

Is there any hope that Mikel Arteta can repeat his magic against his former boss?

Leave us your comments below and maybe predict the score at the same time.

Also, if you go to the official Arsenal website here you will be able to get live commentary text and radio.

JustArsenal predicted Arsenal team (for comparison) here
JustArsenal match preview here

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Tags Arsenal Team Arsenal v Man City Carabao Cup

167 Comments

      1. It’d likely be like that. I guess Arteta wants to compete in the ball possession department, hence Willock starts ahead of Pepe

  3. Sooo sick of seeing these mediocre players in the starting line up!!!!
    Should start even more youngsters!
    Kola, laca need to jog on

    1. When did I mention elneny and dani?🤣😂typical misread…
      And yes either nketiah or possibly a risk on balagun… what has laca done this season to deserve a start?

  6. I am afraid we can’t win. City have deployed a full string squad.

    Ederson, Cancelo, Laporte, Dias, Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Rodri, Mahrez, Bernardo, Foden and Gabriel Jesus.

    3. No Ederson. But I agree it’s a strong City team.
      I’ll just relax and enjoy any positives that may come from the youngsrers

  7. great plan…nothing opens up an offence more than having at least 7 of 11 starters there primarily for defensive purposes…here’s hoping we get a shot on target

  8. A chance for some of our youngsters to shine. Hope Martinelli plays well and scores. Puts him closer to a starting place in the Prem. City team looks strong. As we are underdogs by a country mile, hopefully this will stop the fear that’s rife among so many of our team. Bring it on.

  9. Nothing like a nice easy competitor and a non pl game to enable a win and rebuild of confidence lost.
    I wonder if Pepe and Willian will show for the ball and actually run a little tonight?
    Pepes whole body exudes ‘Hey I’m.chilled, laid back!’ Makes me want to give him a shake!

    In Ligue 1 he was tremendous I was so excited when we signed him….hmmm
    No I see Traore at Villa and think theres the one we should have gone for.
    Coyg win or lose, compete hard and fast and make us proud 🙂

  11. @RT
    You mentioned Kola.
    Dont forget around now players out of.favour or who havent played much will get a little game time. Placing them in the ‘shop window’
    Kola is one I think they want to sell aoing with one or two of our 20 or so CBS:-)

  12. Cedric at left back? Granted the team sheet gives nothing away wrt formation but still.
    And a former gunner has just put Brentford through. He certainly doesn’t miss us

  13. Are you actually shitting me??!!!
    Runarsson, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Cedric midfield, Ceballos, Elmeny, Lacca up front!!!! WTAF??!!!
    Arteta clearly has lost the plot!!
    This could be the thrashin of all thrashings!!!

    1. It’s a terrible line up!
      Let’s bring the ‘senior’ players to help youngsters!
      What? The senior Z team??
      I’ve no idea what Arteta is thinking with this line up.

  14. @Declan
    I should read the article format really shouldn’t I:-)
    Best news I’ve heard tonight! Sure they’ll be in later at some point though.

  17. Another lineup without ESR, no Saliba, Nelson disappears… more of the same letdowns we’ve watched for months. Only positive is Gabi and we get a break from the drab Willian.

    1. @RSH. Saliba’s issue is very strange. No one knows what’s going on behind the scenes but I can’t understand.

      He needs to be given an opportunity just like the others.

      MA is beginning to bore me.

  18. No Saliba > No surprise… he apparently has a meeting this week to discuss his future… in other words where he’s heading on loan!

      1. Hi Ahmad73.

        So easy to be wise after the event, but I wish added more to my original comment.

        Suicide to play Runar. He is light years off playing at the level of last night.

        In fact, I doubt if he will hack it at all at our place at all !

        Again, who is scouting these players, and recommending them ?

        Take care.

  22. Josh da Silva of Brentford…the midfielder that we need. Only 22 and absolutely brilliant against Newcastle tonight.

  24. Well we don’t have to wait to go down to 10 men we’re starting with 7 men guess who????

  27. Mustafi gets a game but not Saliba? Even Kolasinac too? I hope this game will be enough to rid us off of Arteta.

  28. We can win this. So happy to see Martinelli starting. Let’s hope we win and kick start our season. Really big 3 games ahead now for the fans the players and our manager. Arteta having faith in Martinelli Willock and Niles is a positive sign.. Arsenal 4 Citizens 2

    1. SueP it does seem that way, but on paper it looks to me as if this team has a little more energy in it than many of our teams this season. If City are a little complacent we could spring a surprise.

        1. But our defense is so much improved. NOT!

          I still don’t get why ESR is not playing. Willock is playing completely out of position.
          It’s obvious, MA does not like his type of players.

  32. Ceballos hardly able 2 walk let alone run esr on the bench mustafi on the way out but no sabila M A go plzzzzz

  33. Ozil being excluded from the Arsenal team isn’t about football, it’s politics. I know television pundits will and continue to dress it up as “Ozil isn’t pulling his weight” and “Arteta is right to exclude him for it” but that is just a cloak and dagger technique, also misinformation to turn the neutral fans against Ozil. All these television pundits and media experts are bashing Ozil even now when he isn’t even in the team for losing game after game, for the failures of Arteta’s management, whilst Arteta is up in front of the world’s media saying “It’s my decision to keep out Ozil from the team” without ever giving a valid credible reason. Ozil doesn’t have a voice except for social media, even then he has been loyal to Arsenal and not ever mentioning the treatment he has been getting from the club or Arteta.
    This all stems from when couple of months ago when Ozil highlighted the plight of Uyghurs treatment under Chinese rulers, how China has inprisoned more than 2 million men, women and children into concentration camps. Only last week Antoine Griezmann did the same thing as Ozil speaking out for Uyghurs, Antoine Griezmann even ended a sponsorship deal with China’s Huawei and FC Barcelona backed him. But what do Arsenal to? The exact opposite. It seems to Arsenal that Chinese television money and selling a few Arsenal jersey’s matter more to the club than human rights of people. What does that say about our club?
    It is often footballers get bashed for flashing money, buying mansions, buying supercars, partying etc but here is a footballer Ozil trying to do the right thing by showing humility and compassion but is kicked out by Arsenal for it.
    It’s disgusting and shameful how the club I love from a childhood could treat one of it’s own star player this way, not only that putting money ahead of human lives. Now that he has lost the dressroom its ARTETA OUT!!!! for me.
    #arsenallivesmatter

  36. It’s now official ceballos is the worst player ever 2 play 4 arsenal, maby not mustafi just fell over passing the ball out LOL

  37. No Saliba in the squad?
    Really!!

    A goal down Inside 3mins, going out of the cup then heading to Chelsea to be beaten to be put In a relegation scrap so well done all in charge 👏👏

    Mikel needs to leave. We need a manager not a mentor, hes a good no2 and that’s maybe about it atm.

  39. Sack the lot of them Mikel!
    This guy had the potential and longevity to be an arsenal legend and genius for us but he needs players of a certain standard who work and concentrate hard.
    His inherited players played awesome at first when we won the fa cup bear pool and Leicester to get to this game so arteta hasnt changed he suddenly hasnt dropped form the players have all the pundits say our players look bored and apathetic. Yea that could be because they are bored of Mikels voice or fed up with his hard line comments about destroying the internal leak, the pepe sending off, the ozil situation etc.
    Basically there is 80 to 90% support for arteta but then rest is a disquiet but powerful negative prescience it’s obvious in.the way we play, run work etc.
    I never thought our players would be the type.to oust a manager it’s a disgrace.
    Clearly Wenger’s practically let them do what they want approach is what their used to and want now.
    Oh well they’ll be getting paid 25% less soon when in the ch’ship still under arteta.
    #wise up and wake up team!

      1. The physio better get to work on Martinelli during the break as he’s the only one who seems to get us going.

  50. The plan by the players to get Arteta sacked is nearing it’s accomplishment. Gabriel seemingly is the only professioal player on the pitch. Coming out all the way to the midfield to make tackles where as thr likes of Mustafi are……..

  52. This is more like it. Why do we always have to go a goal down to start actually trying to play a little?

  56. Fantastic save by Runarsson, but he has to learn a lot if he wants to be the second keeper at Arsenal. Jesus’ header should’ve been prevented by Mustafi and him, but Mustafi didn’t seem focus on the match

    Martinelli is a baller and we need an attacker who’s good in one-on-one situations like him. Willock was quick, good in the air and kept the ball well, so hopefully he could play as RW again in EPL

  57. Martinelli you were cert you!!!

    We have missed your energy and enthusiasm so much, Saka is the only other player to do so with abit of heart and class 👏

    Yessssss young man! Hes committed to the cause as he stated he wants to be an Arsenal Legend and owes so much to the club… Actions speak louder than words, all you big earners take note, hes only back one game and showing how it’s done for a 19years old!!

    The rest time to step up!!!

  61. Can M A not C mustafi is for the want of a better word shite I mean the worst kind of shite deli belly shite..

  68. I think that’s the end of Runarsson’s career as second GK at Arsenal. Iliev would likely replace him next season

  69. Good day,

    I am pleased with the team selection – as i think there is an adequate balance of youth vs experience, pace vs creativity, and hoping we bring in some power in scoring (and also induce luck too). We make our own luck, as Sir Alex said

  70. Let the blaming games start!should he have been subbed straight away?not come back out?..we can’t catch a break at the minute unbelievable!

      2. Sue I watched from 34th minute to second half after the third goal am already out because it is game over since we don’t have the fight back character to score and level up things for extra time so why watch further to make ur night a worse one since things are already bad ATM. The keeper caused us this game. I don’t care about the first goal scored and conceded. I thought we were winning it until Gabi left the pitch and keeper said I will not make u Arsenal fans happy tonight.

        1. Hi Dhoni… tbh I expected to lose… the only bright light for us tonight was Gabi – picking up where he left off. If only everyone else had his drive we’d be alright! Can’t believe he’s injured, bloody typical..
          Yes, the GK had an absolute mare!!
          I don’t like saying this but I’m really not enjoying watching us atm… it has been terrible…. awful… painful….

    1. It would have been our best result of the season had we won but if you really thought we could win then there must be something wrong with you. But to be fair the only luck we have had is bad luck

      1. “there must be something wrong with you”

        Ridiculously unnecessary comment. Seriously why say that to him? What good does that do anybody bar you venting your frustration of arsenal on him?

  77. Runarsson is definitely far from ready for EPL. I know using Macey would be useless since he wants to leave, but we should’ve kept Iliev

    2. He’s is already behaving like he’s won it all. Yet what has he won?
      None of is serious. Why should they be anyway – they get their weekly thousands whatever the outcome.
      Boring boring Arsenal

  78. Offside. If VAR was here we’d have had one player from City red carded & City keeper penalised for the foul on Gabi.

    1. Yes we are. We need to get out old emblem, sigil. Nothing but bad luck since we changed it. We are cursed because of it

    2. This is a first time in a long time City will score more than 3 goals against us and the game has finished yet. I saw some fans blaming the players and the keeper. I’m not watching the match but following process from goal.com and I know that as usual Arteta team surrenders initiative to city and gets wallop. I saw what Soton did to this city team and if we can’t do half of that we long in league 2 and not championship or league 1. When we have Mackey, Ileve and that Estonia young goelie why did purchase Runnerson. Not I have anything against him but the shorter than all the keeper mentioned above

      1. Good point… It’s obvious there is disbelieve in the dressing room. What this team need is an experience manager not a rookie. A manager who can tell players “this was how I won the champions league that year”. What will Arteta be telling players like Partey who have won many big games, can he manage players who have won more silverware than he has as a coach and player put together.

        We need to stop this madness called believing in Arteta cos it’s obvious he’s a flop. If we say we are trusting him to save the situation what will that be based on, an fa cup and a community shield? Remember Do Matteo of Chelsea? He won the champions league for them and still got sacked after a couple of months.
        #ArtetaOut

  88. Wow no more comments from me till arteta is sacked I’m outa here 35 years supporting AFC diagnosed with high blood pressure in the last 3 years now I know why💩💩💩💩💩

  90. Maybe in Arteta’s mind we had 2% chance of winning this one anyway and man city 98%.

    If he doesn’t turn things round at end of February, he is a goner if not before then.

    1. This is what pisses me off the most about Arteta’s post match interviews. Embarrasses himself every single time.

  91. Arsenal kill people’s love for football. Football doesn’t interest me any longer. I may be better off supporting MK Dons

  92. Arsenal are officially going into a relegation fight with this lot,
    The thought of relegation is actually real!

    Wow!

    Arsenal is now not a big club anymore! Easily beat week in and week out and even the smaller teams (which we are one of now) beat us all the time and do so with ease.

  93. What exactly does Pepe bring to any game? As flops go, he’s right up there as the most expensive flop of all time! Useless!!!!!!!!

    1. The problem with Pepe is that he’s very selfish and want to be the star. There were shots he took in games that he should have just passed. He always wants to dribble the whole pitch before passing when he can just dribble one and pass or just play one twos. I also think our coaches are clueless in player development. These are things they should be telling him.

  95. Thank God I slowly consumed a very delicious bottle of Argentinian Malbec during the game. I feel warm, fuzzy and numb. How many more “Arsenal legends” are going to come out of the woodwork and say “Give Arteta a Chance” How far do Arsenal have to fall???

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