Match Day Thread Tottenham Hotspur vs. Arsenal (Capital One Cup) 2015/16 Official Match Thread

I have never stuck my prick in a dead sheep's mouth

 

Ignore.

 

Gabby available now for this game. Much happier with him and Kos at the back.

 

Gabriel gets let off whilst Costa gets a 3 match ban

 

****ing classic

 

With Coquelin fit or not it makes AW's decision not to sign a DM look rash when you consider Arteta as a replacement. He's past his sell-by date. Pacey attackers will have him on toast.

 

Our defence isn't what is going to concern me for this game; what will concern me is our midfield because we need a combative midfielder with good stamina, yet we look likely to field Arteta/Flamini, which means we will get overran in midfield. I genuinely would rather play Ramsey as a DM than any of the latter two or even the 17 year old Bielik (unlikely though).

I'm not going to incessantly moan about not getting a DM this Summer because it's been done to the death and we have to make do with what we have now. It's Spurs and I bloody hate losing to them, but as Coquelin isn't fit for this match (and even if he was I'm unsure he would have featured anyway), I don't know who will be our DM which really concerns me because the lack of adequate options for that position may cost us - hence my lack of optimism.

I just hope we can deal with whatever threat they have and we decide to be clinical for once. Losing successive derbies is a difficult pill to swallow, so the players better be up for it. And besides, we didn't actually beat them last season, so I would be happy if we can actually do it this time around!

 

It's a shame that so many players are injured as we could even have played Ramsey and Oxo in midfield, I think they would have been combative and mobile enough. Only real issue is that they both have a tendency to give the ball away in silly positions. But as we don't have many other options on the RW, then we have to play Oxo there - unless we play Giroud upfront and Walcott on the RW. But it's much more likely that Arteta will start, which next to Ramsey he should be fine, even if he's not up to the standard we need.

 

I would go with Arteta and Ramsey in the middle. Ox right, and Giroud up top with Alexis left. I think we need to play our strongest team.

 

Purely because it's the derby, I do agree with you. However, I just get the feeling that Wenger will be prioritising the match with Leicester because it's a Premier League fixture and he would rather lose this game and win the Leicester match than the other way around.

 

We saw how that worked out in the last 2 games. We prioritized Chelsea over Zagreb. We have lost 2 on the bounce. We need to get our minds right. Can't afford to lose 3.

 

I think Alexis needs a rest, imo it's paramount for his form and fitness - he only had a one game rest at the start of the season after playing the whole of the Copa America, and we can't afford to lose him to injury/loss of form for the entire season.

 

We didn't sign a DM either (despite selling Capoue, Paulinho and Stambouli), we have Bentaleb, Mason and Dembele out and if the papers are to be believed we will start with Dier and Carroll in there so you may be all right.

 

I ****ing hope Arsene sees it like this too.

 

Arsenal XI: Ospina, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Chambers, Gibbs, Arteta, Flamini, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey, Campbell, Giroud.

Give me strength. Arteta and Flamini in midfield.

Should we just throw in the towel now.

 

And the last time Debuchy, Chambers and Gibbs played it didn't end well. The pace of Merts and Chambers doesn't exactly evoke fear either...

Be interesting to see Ramsey in the AM position, he'll be more comfortable there, unless it's more of a midfield 3. If he gets the ball of course...

 

It's the league cup and I understand using our second string, but I can't help but feel we could of kept a couple more first 11 players in there given it's against the spuds...

 

Last time we played with these players in the backline it wasn't good. They need to be much improved today if they want to keep Tottenham out.

 

Although I can understand Chambers needing game time, it would have been helpful for Gabrielle to have the chance to develop his partnership with Merts.

What's the bench like?

 

Ozil, Sanchez and Walcott all on the bench so we have some strength. Bellerin and monreal too. Plus a couple of youngsters (iwobi and macey).