Capitol One Cup Arsenal v Southampton Emirates Stadium Tuesday, September 23, 2014 19.45 GMT; 2:45pm EST After a confidence-boosting 3-0 victory at Villa Park, we're back home to face Soton in the Capitol One Cup. I'm excited to potentially see some of the players who haven't sniffed action yet this year – Rosicky, Podolski, Campbell, Gnabry, and, yes, Diaby. Fully expect Sanchez to play and Ozil to rest. Give Ramsey and Arteta the day off as well. Not sure if we have much option of rotating our defense, unfortunately. Seems likely we could see Bellerin make a second appearance.
Also, did you know: Diaby is currently the most senior first team player we have at Arsenal. If he stays to the start of 2016 he'd be eligible for a testimonial! (Diaby arrived Jan. 2006, Rosicky in May 2006. Flamini was here beforehand, but obviously hasn't been here concurrently).
I expect to see the likes of Hayden, Bellerin, Sanogo, Diaby, and Coquelin. I'd like to see Zelalem and Crowley get significant playing time, but that's unlikely to happen.
Ospina will likely get the nod in goal as well. I would like to see this: Ospina Bellerin-Chambers-Kos-Gibbo Flamini-Diaby-Rosicky Sanchez-Poldi-Campbell Strong team and good enough to beat the Saints at home.
It's Abou Diaby and Super Tom time! Two loyal servants who have deserved better in their careers. It would be great if they can lead us to the Land of Milk (Cup) and Honey.
I'd like to see rosicky and wilshere playing centrally. Let ox have another go. Diaby in the arteta spot. Sanchez/Poldi/ox up top maybe. Or Santi.
"B+" team will be more than enough at home. Diaby, Campbell, Bellerin, etc. An ugly 2-1 will be fine.
I just looked it up. Somehow Diaby has managed 179 appearances for Arsenal (a great many of those were as a substitute I would imagine). I would never have predicted it was that many. Surely nobody has ever "earned" a testimonial with so few appearances.
Must rest all/most the first team for the derby. I really care less if we loss this game this early, it less distruction and gives us more time to prepare for big ones...Jeol will play his life game..
Yeah, I didn't count Gibbs because he didn't see first team action until late 2007. But yeah, he and Wilshere would have been the overall longer-tenured Arsenal players, just not in the first team. With the large size of our squad right now, and with 3 players that haven't even seen action this year (Rosicky/Gnaby/Campbell), you really hope we rotate a ton. Now that we have our recent trophy, I'd really like to see the C1 Cup be a chance for player development again.
Start: Ospina, Bellerin, Mertesacker (c), Hayden, Monreal, Coquelin, Diaby, Rosicky, Gnabry, Campbell, Sanogo. Subs: Martinez, Chambers, Gibbs, Zelalem, Ox, Alexis, Poldi
Too soon for Crowley AND Zelalem? Ospina Bellerin Hayden Julio Nacho Diaby Rosicky Gnabry Zelalem Campbell Yaya
Gnabry and Yaya out til mid October. AW today "“You might see Hector Bellerin, Francis Coquelin and Isaac Hayden,” he told Arsenal.com. “In the squad, we also have Chuba Akpom and Semi Ajayi as well. These are the players that are the closest.” For the love of God, please no Coq!
Is flamini available? Wouldn't be surprised to see... ------chubby-------- Joel---rosicky---Zelalem ------coq-----flam/diaby----- Gibbs---Hayden---chambers---Bellerin -----ospina----
Wenger nit picked actual talented defenders all summer long and didn't buy one despite abolutely needing one. Completly stupid. What makes you think he's gonna shop off the discount rack now? Wouldn't Wenger just be admitting he's stupid at that point?