Young Gunners Must Battle Against Favourites Tag
With all the turmoil and expectation surrounding Arsenal’s first team trophy hunt, the Carling Cup has offered many Gooners the opportunity to relieve some of the stress, and watch the Crème de la Crème of the best young talent in the country.
Key to their superb form has been the underdog factor. Indeed, Arsenal were expected to draw with Sheffield United, and on paper, probably lose to Wigan with such an inexperienced XI. This expectancy to lose has brought out the character of the youngsters, who have been determined to prove their worth.
However, the trip to Burnley presents an entirely different mental challenge for the squad, who are now expected to turn over the Championship outfit and book a place in the semis. It’s not just Arsenal fans who realise the potential of these carefully nurtured talents, but now pundits alike are expecting big things.
The tables are turned. The Gunners are the favourites, whilst their hosts are, on paper, going to be turned over. The pressure is growing on the boys to deliver now, and in a true test of personality, tomorrow is as much about application of attitude as it is natural football talent.
To help them along the way, Mikaël Silvestre will offer a clam head, he will start along with Nicklas Bendtner and Carlos Vela. The duo have shown blistering form whenever playing together in the past, and with the Clarets in mixed form ahead of this one, goals should be expected.
Mark Randall will lineup against several former team mates, it’s 11 months since the 19-year-old began a 3 month loan spell with Owen Coyles side. Mark’s tenacious and defensive style implemented in the Cup has been key, as he compliments Aaron Ramsey’s creative spark.
With centre back problems, Francis Coquelin could earn a start in an unfamiliar right back slot, with Gavin Hoyte moving inside. Team predictions and such will follow in tomorrow’s Match Preview.
Article By – J.Sanderson
e should win, won’t be as easy as people think tho, Bendtner n Vela should do well. Check the Blog http://www.nicklasbendtnernews.wordpress.com.
matthew789 said this on December 2, 2008 at 12:22 am
where is havart nordtveit???? he could play center half
asyd said this on December 2, 2008 at 12:31 am
‘Mikaël Silvestre will offer a clam head’
More of a bean head than a clam head.
Gersch said this on December 2, 2008 at 1:10 am
It will be interesting to see how Arsene will arrange the back 4. Go Gunners!!
gt said this on December 2, 2008 at 2:19 am
Hey J, what the hell has happened to Nordveit? I know he came back from loan but that was weeks ago. I am really surprised to have head nothing of him and with a defensive shortage one might have pegged him for a place in the squad. Do you have any news on our young Norwegian?
TheArsenalBoy said this on December 2, 2008 at 2:41 am
i agree silvestre does have a clam-like head
do you think bischoff might get a shot?
danger said this on December 2, 2008 at 2:56 am
Fabianksi
Hoyte Song Silvestre Gibbs
Wilshere Randall Ramsey Merida
Bendtner Vela
Andrew said this on December 2, 2008 at 4:18 am
Here’s my guess for the lineup:
Fabianski
Emmanuel Thomas(or Coquelin) – Silvestre – Hoyte – Gibbs
Wilshere – Ramsey – Randall(or Frimpong) – Merida
Bentdner – Vela
alternatively if Randall is not passed fit:
Fabianski
Emmanuel Thomas(or Coquelin) – Silvestre – Hoyte – Gibbs
Simpson – Ramsey – Merida – Wilshere
Bentdner – Vela
vela_fan said this on December 2, 2008 at 5:50 am
Fabianski
Randall Song Hoyte Gibbs
Wilshere Ramsey Coquelin Merida
Bendtner Vela
The Carling Cup is for the young players, expect Coquelin to play and Silvestre to be on the bench. maybe Randall at righ back and Coquelin in Defensive Midfield
Cyril said this on December 2, 2008 at 6:18 am
This potentially could be the game that the Arsenal youngguns finaly slip up in IMO.
kent paul said this on December 2, 2008 at 6:59 am
“Mikaël Silvestre will offer a clam head”. I’m assuming that wasn’t intended, but it still fits quite well.
usgooner said this on December 2, 2008 at 7:18 am
[...] time that the young Gunners will head into a match as favourites as Jamie Sanderson at Young Guns points out. They have been free to exploit their attacking prowess in previous fixtures in the competitions, [...]
Match Preview: Burnley vs. Arsenal | Oh To Be A Gooner said this on December 2, 2008 at 7:20 am
Team I think will play
_____________Fabi(C)
Coq______Hoyte___Sly____Gibbs
Wilshire___Ramsey___Randall__Merida
___________Vela___Bendtner
rockypires said this on December 2, 2008 at 8:15 am
i wonder nordtveit will involved this time. i can’t see anyone else play right back so it must be hoyte. who will partner silves? some websites suggest kyle bartley but i think nordtveit is a better and more senior player. i would like to see him play though.
g0on3r said this on December 2, 2008 at 8:30 am
won’t it be song/silvestre as the cb pairing?
Nirgoon said this on December 2, 2008 at 9:05 am
CC squad:
12 Carlos VELA
16 Aaron RAMSEY
18 Mikael SILVESTRE
19 Jack WILSHERE
21 Lukasz FABIANSKI (GK)
24 Vito MANNONE (GK)
26 Nicklas BENDTNER
28 Amaury BISCHOFF
35 Francis COQUELIN
40 Kieran GIBBS
41 Gavin HOYTE
42 Henri LANSBURY
43 Fran MERIDA
47 Mark RANDALL
49 Paul RODGERS
50 Jay SIMPSON
51 Rene STEER
56 Emmanuel FRIMPONG
choy said this on December 2, 2008 at 9:15 am
Come on boys
GlobalGunner!! said this on December 2, 2008 at 9:16 am
12 Carlos VELA
16 Aaron RAMSEY
18 Mikael SILVESTRE
19 Jack WILSHERE
21 Lukasz FABIANSKI (GK)
24 Vito MANNONE (GK)
26 Nicklas BENDTNER
28 Amaury BISCHOFF
35 Francis COQUELIN
40 Kieran GIBBS
41 Gavin HOYTE
42 Henri LANSBURY
43 Fran MERIDA
47 Mark RANDALL
49 Paul RODGERS
50 Jay SIMPSON
51 Rene STEER
56 Emmanuel FRIMPONG
KC said this on December 2, 2008 at 9:24 am
Bischoff will be on the bench. Maybe captaincy for Silvestre to lead the backline
Cyril said this on December 2, 2008 at 9:52 am
Ok guys. Nordveit was sent out on a loan and therefore we can’t retain him until the transfer window opens up again, January 1. We decided to call him home early to train with us but he can’t play until the new year.
I think we will see the same team as in the first game, except the defense will be very different. Wenger indirectly said that Djourou and Song won’t play but Silvestre will. So Hoyte will partner the French man while my guess is that Coquelin, or alternatively Lansbury, will play right back instead of Hoyte. So my prediction is:
——————Fabianski——————-
Coquelin–Hoyte–Silvestre–Gibbs
Wilshere–Ramsey–Randall–Merida
——-————Nick–Vela———–——
If Randall is judged not fit then there are a lot of competitors for the midfield role. Merida could be moved in or even Wilshere. But my guess is that one of Lansbury, Bischoff or Coquelin will play in midfield if Mark doesn’t play.
Stone said this on December 2, 2008 at 10:47 am
Song won’t start as Wenger said that those who played on Sunday won’t start. I hope that Simpson will play ahead of Bendtner, along side Vela. The team is likely to be the same as last time, but Silvestre for Djourou, frimprong for song. Frimprong to play at right back, hoyte CB.
allrounder said this on December 2, 2008 at 11:38 am
WHERE IS NORDTVEIT??????????
9jagunner said this on December 2, 2008 at 11:42 am
What’s going on with Håvard Nordtveit?
Baz said this on December 2, 2008 at 12:33 pm
What do you make of Frimpong being picked over Jay E Thomas, JS?
rockypires said this on December 2, 2008 at 12:36 pm
This is not going to be an easy game, and I reckon we’ll lose (although I’ll be watching and shouting for all I’m worth!). After watching the last CC match I think Gibbs, although good going forward, is not a natural defender.. He doesn’t close quick enough and there was a lot of crosses coming in from his side.. A weak point in the team, which will be exploited against a decent side..
nexxus said this on December 2, 2008 at 12:59 pm
From what I saw last time there was a lot of crosses coming in from Gibbs’ side.. I reckon he’s a weak link defensively..
nexxus said this on December 2, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Damn slow internet connection thingy..
nexxus said this on December 2, 2008 at 1:05 pm
To help them along the way, Mikaël Silvestre will offer a clam head
interesting.
Samuel said this on December 2, 2008 at 1:20 pm
————Fabianski———-
Rodgers*–Hoyte–Silvestre–Gibbs
Wilshere–Ramsey–Randall–Merida
———-Vela–Bendtner
*Maybe Coquelin
PSG said this on December 2, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Rodgers at centre back or Gavin Hoyte at CB with Coquelin filling in at right back. I’d go for the former – Hoyte has done really well at RB and I’d keep him there for consistency of selection. Could be a big day for Paul Rodgers
CJ said this on December 2, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Nordtveit cannot play for Arsneal until 1st January, because he was called back from his loan early. He would definatley be featuring otherwise.
jonty said this on December 2, 2008 at 2:59 pm
NORDTVEIT IS NOT ALLOWED TO PLAY FOR ARSENAL BEFORE THE FIRST OF JANUARY AS HE OFFICIALLY IS A SALAMANCA-PLAYER!!!
And I would actually suspect Lansbury at RB infront of Coc, as he adds the offensive creative spark and is used to be playing on the wings.
BUt I really suspect Rodgers to take the RB spot…
BooMeR said this on December 2, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Wow. Steer and Frimpong. Things are getting desperate…
crafty bison said this on December 2, 2008 at 3:12 pm
hey sanders.
Whats the story on Nordtveit..`?
Injury or not good enough?
Nilssen ( Norway) said this on December 2, 2008 at 3:30 pm
I realise the squad has been announced, but with reference to the earlier posts concerning Nordtveit. Isn’t he ineligible as we brought him back from his loan prior to 1st Jan 2009 ??
R said this on December 2, 2008 at 4:06 pm
You should do a post on how Fran Merida
Quote wenger:
“But at the moment in the Premier League you need power and I feel Fran is a late developer physically, but I do think he will come on.”
Erin said this on December 2, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Nordveit can’t play until January because he isn’t registered to play at the moment and he can’t be registered until the 1st Jan.
AD7 said this on December 2, 2008 at 4:30 pm
I think this game will be as entertaining as the first team v. Top 4! Go Gunns!
gt said this on December 2, 2008 at 4:41 pm
My team:
Fabianski
Rodgers Hoyte Silvestre Gibbs
Wilshere Ramsey Randall* Merida
Bendtner Vela
* or Bischoff, depending on how his injury are.
lurtzz said this on December 2, 2008 at 5:01 pm
My understanding from reading this site is that Nordveit is NOT eligible. Even though he has returned from loan, his registration is still held by Salamanca.
Will be interesting to see if he is loaned out again, this time to a Championship side or whether he takes a place in the Carling Cup side should they advance tonight. (The latter may also depend on whether Toure is sold.)
I was hoping to see Kyle Bartley. Anyone have an update on him? Obviously injuries are a huge problem for him and he’s not likely to be able to stay fit, but if he could, I think he would have an excellent chance of making given his height, speed and strength.
ClockEndofTimes said this on December 2, 2008 at 5:36 pm
The Official site states that Rodgers is expected to play. So either Rodgers at RB and Hoyte at CB, or the other way around. I’m guessing Gavin will get the chance alongside Silvestre.
Stone said this on December 2, 2008 at 6:17 pm
What type of injury is Randall carrying? I seem to be getting mixed news on whether he will play or not.
Come on boys!!!
Davo said this on December 2, 2008 at 7:00 pm
I was hoping maybe Eduardo would get a run out.
DB10 said this on December 2, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Arsenal
21 Fabianski
41 Hoyte
18 Silvestre
16 Ramsey
40 Gibbs
48 Rodgers
47 Randall
43 Merida
19 Wilshere
26 Bendtner
12 Vela
Emirates_General said this on December 2, 2008 at 7:13 pm
fabianski, rodgers, hoyte, silvestre, gibbs, wilshere, randall, ramsey, merida, bendtner, vela is confirmed XI
vinny said this on December 2, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Team News..
http://youngguns.wordpress.com/2008/12/02/teams-arsenal-v-burnley-rodgers-bendtner-start/
J.Sanderson said this on December 2, 2008 at 7:31 pm