Looks like Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski will make his first team debut for Arsenal this evening against Newcastle in the 3rd round of the Carling Cup.
It’s also clear that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will give some of his young squad players some good competitive experience against the Magpies. Lassana Diarra will probabaly make his first start for the club and Nicklas Bendtner, Denilson,Theo Walcott, Eduardo, Armand Traore, Alex Song, Justin Hoyte and Emmanuel Eboue are all in contention for starting positions.
Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce will be without striker Michael Owen and defender Claudio Cacapra, who are both suffering from groin injuries, picked up in Sunday’s win against West Ham. Mark Viduka suffered a slight foot injury but it is not expected to keep him out of the starting line-up. Long term injured players Joey Barton, Emre, Peter Ramage, Damien Duff, Stephen Carr and Celestine Babayaro are all still out and not included in the squad.
Arsenal (from): Fabianski, Traore, Senderos, Song, Hoyte, Diarra, Denilson, Diaby, Walcott, Eduardo, Bendtner, Mannone, Randall, Gibbs, Lansbury, Merida Perez, Eboue.
Newcastle (from): Harper, Given, N’Zogbia, Rozehnal, Taylor, Enrique, Faye, Edgar, Beye, Milner, Geremi, Butt, Smith, Pattison, Viduka, Martins, Ameobi.
We expect Sam to field the following Newcastle side for the game tonight:
Given
Beye Rozehnal Taylor Enrique
Milner Geremi Faye N’Zogbia
Martins Viduka
Subs: Harper, Edgar, Smith, Pattison, Ameobi
The Newcastle team looks a strong one – particularly in defense – and it will good to see Milner and N’Zogbia starting on the wings in a 4-4-2 formation. We expect Taylor to come in for Claudio Cacapa, who is out injured with a groin strain. We also expect Abdoulaye Faye to be given his first start in central midfield, probably in place of Nicky Butt, who will be given a rest tonight before Saturday’s early KO game(12:45 pm) with Manchester City at Manchester.
Possible variations to the Newcastle line-up could be Smith starting in place of Viduka up front with Oba Martins. Michaal Owen is out again of course with his troublesome groin strain and will not participate again for at least 10 days. We should know within the next day or two whether Michael will require an operation on his hernia. He did have another scan done on it yesterday.
This game is very hard to call and of course a result is needed on the night so extra time of 15 minutes each way and penalties will be used if necessary. The defense looks our key to victory. If we can keep a clean sheet we could get through on the night. We have to go for a 1-0 Newcastle win – but everyone will need to be at their very best tonight for that to be achieved.
What do you think? What team should Newcastle field?
You can also participate on our Newcastle United Forum in the lead up to the game.
Comments always welcome.
67 comments so far
Graeme
Sep 25, 2007 at 10:16 AM
Comment #1Ed, I would be happy with that starting line up. There is width, pace and goals in that team and if they play as well as they did on Sunday, we have to be in with a good shout. Arse Nils “2nd team” would have no problem hoding their own in the premiership, some class players will be playing against us tonight and we will need to be on the ball from the whistle!!!!
I think we can win it. 2-1 is my prediction, but will gladly settle for 1-0 to the toon!!!
les
Sep 25, 2007 at 10:22 AM
Comment #2the only thing that’ll scrape, is your managers knuckle…….Arsenal have lost 1 match there, and oplaying a fairly decent squad (diarra, diaby, denilson, bendtner, fabianski are playing and internationals)
Sue
Sep 25, 2007 at 10:24 AM
Comment #3Who exactly are Arse Nils?
Gun
Sep 25, 2007 at 10:37 AM
Comment #4The Gunners will have the last laugh! Wait and see. That Newcastle team will be stuffed today. Gunners will win 3-0.
Toon Chicken
Sep 25, 2007 at 10:37 AM
Comment #5Reckon we need to be shooting on sight if their keeps is making his debut tonight – he’s gotta be nervous about that!
Ed – did the Duke not pick up an injury on Sunday? Is he ok now??
Sue
Sep 25, 2007 at 10:40 AM
Comment #6Isn’t Fabianski Poland’s National Goalkeeper?
I somehow doubt he will be too nervous then.
Toon Chicken
Sep 25, 2007 at 10:51 AM
Comment #7He’s made 4 appearances for Poland, Sue. He’s only 22 though, and this will be his first game under the lights at The Emirates, and with a few thousand Geordies screaming at him, I reckon he might just have the odd jitter or two.
Bobby Ollox
Sep 25, 2007 at 10:53 AM
Comment #8If Oba has his shooting boots on the right feet, it could make for an interesting evening – hope he is keen to atone for his miss on Sunday, and prove he deserves a place ahead of EMO.
Tim
Sep 25, 2007 at 10:56 AM
Comment #9Anyone knows what channel (if any) will show the game?
Craig Allen
Sep 25, 2007 at 10:56 AM
Comment #10While I’d love to see our strongest team – I don’t think Sam will ignore once bitten with Viduka., If he’s carrying a knock/niggle whatever, then it’s best not to risk him as chances of him missing more games just like Owen when that doctor speculated, she was spot on. I’ll respect her opinion next time – my bad 😀
So, it should be Smith and Martins upfront.
Now, is Beye ready for another fast paced game or will he need more oxygen. Will Sam start him a right back? How else can we shuffle the team say he should run out of breath halfway through the 2nd half? We’re looking a bit thin I suspect… I hope not though. Besides, Zog and Milner will keep going on the flanks so something’s got to give at the Emirates. Should be a cracker nontheless.
Rich
Sep 25, 2007 at 10:58 AM
Comment #11Id play a similar line up to Ed but would go for this:
Given
Beye Taylor Rozenthal Enrique
Milner Geremi Faye N’ Zogbia
Smith Martins Subs: Harper, Viduka, Butt, Edgar, Pattison.
If Beye gets tired late on again like Saturday, slot Taylor in at right back Faye back into Central Defence and bring on Butt.
Toon Chicken
Sep 25, 2007 at 10:59 AM
Comment #12If Beye isn’t ready then I suggest Faye drops back into defence and Butt takes his place in midfield. Then either Faye or Taylor can play right back – problem solved! 🙂
Toon Chicken
Sep 25, 2007 at 11:00 AM
Comment #13yep, agree with you Rich – that’s the same team I posted yesterday.
Craig Allen
Sep 25, 2007 at 11:07 AM
Comment #14forgot about Faye! Geez, imagine if we hadn’t had as many experienced/quality defenders – we’d look a bit suspect right about now – sort of like some of our squads of the past. Glad that’s looking a bit better.
ToonKing
Sep 25, 2007 at 11:08 AM
Comment #15@Tim : As far as i know this game is not on the tube…………….which is insane if u ask me, bloody SkySports showing Chelsea – Hull City- bollox.
Craig Allen
Sep 25, 2007 at 11:09 AM
Comment #16Tim, from nufc.com
======================
UK TV: None – not even any ITV highlights programme until the Wednesday night. The best chance of seeing any action looks to be as part of the live Reading v Liverpool game on SkySports 2 and HD2.
Overseas TV: None
======================
subz
Sep 25, 2007 at 11:10 AM
Comment #17You would think that this would be an attractive game to watch, but no!!!! not one station anywhere in the world is showing it. BOLLOCKS
Sue
Sep 25, 2007 at 11:15 AM
Comment #18Toon Chicken all well and good you saying he has only made 4 appearances but don’t you think that’s a bit dangerous in assuming he would have the “jitters”. I don’t think Wenger is stupid enough to put out players that he didn’t think could win it for them.
Tim
Sep 25, 2007 at 11:17 AM
Comment #19Thanks guys! With a nice fixture like this, you’d expect someone would show it. It’s a pity…
Craig Allen
Sep 25, 2007 at 11:18 AM
Comment #20Official site says Emre’s ready. Also says Viduka has “kick to the foot injury” 🙂 not hamstring, Ed.
Sue
Sep 25, 2007 at 11:22 AM
Comment #21Arsenal’s 16 man/kid squad is as follows:
2 Abou Diaby
6 Phillipe Senderos
8 Lassana Diarra
9 Eduardo
15 Denilson
17 Alexandre Song
21 Lukasz Fabianski (GK)
26 Nicklas Bendtner
27 Emmanuel Eboue
30 Armand Traore
31 Justin Hoyte
32 Theo Walcott
39 Henri Lansbury
40 Vito Mannone (GK)
41 Gavin Hoyte
42 Fran Merida
Toon Chicken
Sep 25, 2007 at 11:31 AM
Comment #22Sue, no I don’t think it’s dangerous assuming he will be nervous – I was only giving my opinion – I don’t pick the team team, nor do I dictate the tactics. And I definitely did not suggest Wenger was “stupid”.
All I was saying is it’s a young lad, making his debut against a good team with a vociferous set of supporters – so therefore it’s not too much of a leap to suggest he might be slightly anxious? If you don’t agree that’s fine.
Craig Allen
Sep 25, 2007 at 11:40 AM
Comment #23According to nufc, all 60k tickets are sold – 60000 at the emirates for a carling cup midweek tie, wow.
Stami
Sep 25, 2007 at 11:50 AM
Comment #24i know for a fact that DSTV in Africa the game will be screened on SuperSport 3. so i will be watching from the comfort of my living room! i can not believe that it is not being screened in the UK of all places, that is rediculous!!!
col
Sep 25, 2007 at 11:50 AM
Comment #25according to the bbc website, the match has live commentary tonight on radio five live…match highlights will probs be on the box later tonight.
nufcstats.com
Sep 25, 2007 at 11:51 AM
Comment #26if we will play the squad mentioned above that would be nice but I’m affraid Viduka isn’t 100% fit and Shola will start.
I can tell something about Fabianski as I’m polish and leave here all my life. he is a decent keeper (one of the many we have) who had two good seasons with Legia Warsaw. he has 4 caps already but in meaningless friendlies. was part of our Word Cup team in Germany (as third choice behind Boruc of Celtic and Kuszczak of ManU, instead of Jerzy Dudek – then Liverpool bench, now Real Madrid bench). so he is talented keeper (Wenger always looks for promising, young players but he didn’t come cheap) but still makes mistakes sometimes and I think his first last season with Legia was worse then previous.
Arsenal will field young team but Wenger do this almost every time in CC but with impressive results so it is going to be very tough match for us but hope it will be more like against WHU then Derby…
Craig Allen
Sep 25, 2007 at 11:51 AM
Comment #27That’s the pool v reading game, Stami. Check your listings you’ll see.
col
Sep 25, 2007 at 11:52 AM
Comment #28as for the result…i will go for a full time/ extra time draw…and newcastle to win it on pens…….
norman
Sep 25, 2007 at 11:59 AM
Comment #29This is going to be a good test for the kids. They have gone from a quaterfinal to a semifinal to a final so if they keep progressing in this competition they could even win it! Last season the kids knocked out full strength Everton and Spurs and who can forget the Pool lessons they gave at Anfield!
Arsenal may be very young tonight but this team looks very good on paper.
————-Fabianski
—Eboue—-G.Hoyte—-Senderos—Traore
—Walcott—-Denilson—Diarra—Diaby
—————-Bendtner—Eduardo
And if you think Cesc is good…wait till your introduced to the genious that is Fran Merida.
3-1 to the Arsenal!!!
norman
Sep 25, 2007 at 12:00 PM
Comment #30Stami, I live in JHB and I checked last night bud, they are showing the Liverpool game not the Arsenal game.
les
Sep 25, 2007 at 12:01 PM
Comment #31christ, we got song as centre half? ffs he worst than bramble/boumsong combined
Jockdownsouth
Sep 25, 2007 at 12:21 PM
Comment #32Gooner here in Peace. One of the reasons Ashburton Grove sells out even for Carling Cup matches is that it gives the true Gooners a chance to see a match live (I’m a Red Member and have only managed tickets for one so far this season) and also it’s always exciting and a little nervewracking to see how well Arsene’s “kids” will do against strong opposition. I’m sure you’ll provide that. We even sold around 16,000 (I think) tickets for the Youth Cup Semifinal last season agains ManU. That’s about 66% of what Chelsea managed for the Champions League.
MektiG
Sep 25, 2007 at 12:26 PM
Comment #33Given
Beye Taylor Rozehnal Enrique
Geremi Faye Emre
Martins Smith N’Zogbia
Toon Chicken
Sep 25, 2007 at 12:32 PM
Comment #34norman – last time I looked the Emirates pitch was covered in grass, not paper. 😉
Sue
Sep 25, 2007 at 12:33 PM
Comment #35It was actually 38,187 for the Youth Cup Semi Final against Man Utd and that is more than the mid week game Chelsea v Rosenborg
jassim
Sep 25, 2007 at 12:36 PM
Comment #36the match is also on al jazeera sports +1……you find this channel in london edgware road in the arbic sheesha places……go ask and you find the channel…iam jassim from kuwait…
Hadji
Sep 25, 2007 at 12:48 PM
Comment #37What’s with the Gooners on this site telling us bullshit how they gonna beat us,well we’ll see about that.
We havent played with the BIG 4 so far but the motivation is on our side.
2-1 for Newcastle
Hadji
Sep 25, 2007 at 12:49 PM
Comment #38I believe in my team and i believe in Sam.
Sue
Sep 25, 2007 at 12:51 PM
Comment #39I would have thought motivation was on both sides.
Craig Allen
Sep 25, 2007 at 12:59 PM
Comment #40forget both sides hell here we’re allowed to only see one side. Our side 😀
Com on TOON! Let’s show these goners what it’s all about!
We have some older, wiser players on our side so the pendulum is leaning more towards nufc. These geezers will show the whippersnappers what it’s like to disrespect elders 😉