please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Arsenal take on Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium in this third round meeting of the Capital One Cup. This competition gives Arsenal the chance to end a seven year trophy drought. The Gunners reached the final of the League Cup in 2011 and were heavy favourites against Birmingham City. But, after a terrible miscommunication between Wojciech Szczesny and Laurent Koscielny, the Gunners gifted the trophy to Birmingham City. It’s the closet they have come to winning their first trophy since 2005 and Arsenal fans are desperate to see their team finally lifting a trophy, so this competition does have its significance. For Coventry City, avoiding relegation from League One will be of the upmost importance this season and this game just comes as a welcome break from the struggles they are going through in the league 1. In their eight league games this season, they have lost five and drawn three. So they are yet to register a win in the league and it has meant that they have been rooted to the relegation places. In fact, Coventry’s only win this season has come in the league cup, so this competition comes as a welcome relief. Coventry City just recently appointed Mark Robins as their new manager and he had a decent record as manager of Barnsley. But, Robins takes charge of a team that must be very low on confidence and he has a massive job on his hands. In his first game in charge, Coventry lost to Carlise at home and it was the worst start imaginable for the Sky Blues. Arsenal go into this game after getting a hard earned point against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Joleon Lescott, gave City the lead with a header in the first half but the Gunners struck late on through Laurent Koscielny to level the scores and earn the Gunners a crucial point, which has meant that they are still undefeated this season. The last time Coventry met Arsenal was way back in 2001 and the Gunners ran out winners at the Ricoh Arena. In that same year, Coventry actually got relegated from the premier league after 34 years in the top tier of English football. 11 years on, they find themselves in league one now and staying in that league has become a struggle for the Sky Blues. But those struggles and worries can be forgotten for a night as the Coventry fans and players look forward to a trip to the Emirates. For Arsenal the League Cup has become a breeding ground for the talented Arsenal youngsters in recent times and players such as Cesc Fabregas and Jack Wilshere have got their first starts for the club in this competition. But this might not be the case in this league cup game as Arsenal will need to give some of the players on the fringes of their first team so much needed game time. The likes of Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey and Laurent Koscielny have had very little game time this season and all three were seen as first team players last season. So Coventry could be facing a very good Arsenal team and with the form they are in, that might be the last thing they would want to see. Theo Walcott’s contractual situation and the form of other attacking players have meant that he has only managed to get the one start this season. Walcott if he plays on Wednesday could be given his chance play as a CF. Serge Gnabry could be in line for his Arsenal debut after impressive in the under 21 squad. Gnabry has caught the eye in the youth set up and made the transition from youth football to the old reserve league at the age of 16 and he scored on his reserve debut. Serge Gnabry is German born but has roots in Ivory Coast and can play for either Germany or Ivory Coast. He is a powerful attacking minded midfielder who can play on the right or behind a main forward but CM is his best position. He has already been named in Arsenal’s Champions League squad. For Nico Yennaris, this could be a special game and as he will have fond memories of meeting between Arsenal and Coventry City. Yennaris was the Arsenal mascot when the two teams played each other at Highbury in 2001. Now, an Arsenal player, Yennaris should make another appearance for the Gunners against the same team. Last season, Arsenal’s run in the League Cup was ended by Manchester City in the Quarter-Finals. Despite a spirited performance from Arsenal they could not avoid a team against a City team that had the likes of Edin Dzeko in their team, while Arsenal had to make do with Park Chu-Young upfront. And this time around, Arsenal face the problem in the League Cup. Marouane Chamakh is still in the Arsenal squad but his last goal for the club was over a year ago. Should Chamakh get the chance to play against Coventry he will surely fancy his chances to end that barren run in front of goal? The League Cup is clearly low down on the list of priories, so maybe this game will not be of the highest quality but the chance to progress in a cup competition should not be taken lightly. So Arsenal will have to put in a professional display against a team that will not of the highest quality but they also play a team that has nothing to lose. Arsenal are the heavy favourites and some will expect them to put on a show by dispatching Coventry City, but funny things can happen in football, so you can never rule out a cup upset. Arsenal fans will be hoping to see the next Arsenal super star in the making and Serge Gnabry certainly has the talent to stamp his mark all over this game. In the last six years, Arsenal have had no problems with progressing past the third round of the League Cup, so let’s hope they continue that trend against Coventry City. The League Cup is still the only domestic cup that Arsene Wenger has yet to win in this country, and on Wednesday night against Coventry City, Arsenal and Arsenal Wenger will start the journey that will hopefully end with them winning the League Cup and therefore ending the long trophy drought. Team News: Arsene Wenger: Three Key Match-ups: please log in to view this image - Stephen Elliott please log in to view this image - Chris Hussey please log in to view this image - Richard Wood Overall Record vs Coventry City: Played: 74 Wins: 41 Draws: 19 Losses: 14 For: 112 Against: 60 GD: 52 Last 6 Meetings: Coventry City 0 - 1 Arsenal Arsenal 2 - 1 Coventry City Arsenal 3 - 0 Coventry City Coventry City 3 - 2 Arsenal Arsenal 2 - 0 Coventry City Coventry City 1 - 0 Arsenal please log in to view this image Managers Views: Arsene Wenger on Serge Gnabry: My Team: please log in to view this image Final Score: please log in to view this image
My team: Martinez Yenaris Djoure Squilachi Santos Coquelan Eastmond Eisfield Chamberlain Arshavin Giroud
djoure is easier on the fingers, and quite frankly, we have so many complicated english spelling last names, Shezny, Kosh, Mert, Coq, and you name it.
that's what i'm saying! i'm sure in their own language and country, it's very easy to spell, but when turned into english, it becomes a nightmare, especially shezny's name. and yes, i am lazy. :-D.
I do not want to see Squillaci in an Arsenal shirt ever again, I know it's Coventry but he would gift even them some goals. Miquel is our fifth choice CB.
Miquel has done really well when he's played. I'd like to see a bit more of him this season. I think he's very composed on the ball and a technically good CB. He's got a way to go to push Mert, Verm and Kos. Hopefully we can have a good cup run which will give him a good chance to impress.
Too soon for Frimpong, but I'd go with your midfield and defence Kyle. Up front though I'd go Walcott, Giroud, Oxo
Why would you play two first team midfielders in the League Cup?! Especially when it's only less than 3 full days before we play Chelsea?!!!!! And not only that, Diaby's just come back from a long lay off, and may struggle to play 3 times within until he's playing for a while, so why take the risk on a League Cup game? NO, just, NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yep, would definitely not play Diaby. There is no way he is playing three games in a week. And we will need him against Chelsea.
Diaby needs match fitness, he tired heavily yesterday, he needs more games to get settled again, a gentle stroll against Coventry will do him wonders. Ramsey played well, i'd play him again, just so we don't have to waste Cazorla's fitness on this fixture. We do actually have a few midfielders still unavailable, it's about maximising your current personnel.
Actually, I'd have to agree about resting Diaby. I think three games in a week is too much and as SJW points out we will need him at his best against Chelsea. I would play Ramsey though and bring him off after an hour if we're winning.
As this match is allegedly tomorrow, and not tonight as I thought, I'd play Koscielny in defense. He's not been getting Prem time, and 90mins against lower-league opposition should up his match fitness a little, he needs minutes on the pitch I also wouldn't be too surprised to see Mannone start thinking about it. I'd like to see him get some more minutes. Mannone Yennaris Djourou Koscielny Santos Coquelin Ramsey Arshavin Theo Giroud Gnabry/Ox Personally I think that team is strong enough to get a good result. If Frimpong is fit I can see Arshavin not starting, or starting on the left, and Ramsey starting at AM & Frimpong replacing him further back. There's also a change of Theo playing up front with 2 from Arshavin / Ox / Gnabry either side of him - that would be interesting, but I'd rather have Arshavin & Ramsey in the middle to be creative as there's not much point having electric pace against a Coventry side that are likely to sit back.
Not much to go on as there has been zero team news, but looks like the likes of Giroud,Arshavin,AOC and Walcott will definitely be involved. http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/45164/training-gallery
From the training pics there is no sign of Ramsey or Kos, I think Wenger is resting all the players that started against Manchester City.
Does Wenger even do any press conferences/interviews before League Cup games? Seriously, the lack of information ahead of this game has been frustrating.
