The Carabao Cup is still a competition that I want us to win, DESPERATELY!
As I’ve said in previous posts, we just haven’t won this competition enough times in our history, and we haven’t won it since 1993.
We’ve already won some silverware this season, with the Community Shield… and I’d like to add to that, by winning the next available trophy… which is the Carabao Cup.
Ipswich Town host us at Portman Road, and The Tractor Boys will be up for this game… as they’re fresh from an excellent 3-2 win, over Crystal Palace, at Selhurst Park.
They play good football, and like to take the game to their opponent.
So if we’re to avoid being runover by the tractor, we’ll need to be outstanding in our field. (HA! You see what I did there?)
We must ensure, that there’s no traction… for The Tractor Boys. We need to plant a crop of goals, on their soil. (HA! I did it again)
The Gunners will also be up for this game, after an exceptional start to the season. Winning 6 of 6 the games played, in all competitions.
I’m expecting Arteta to make wholesale changes for this game, which will give the regular starters a breather, and the fringe players… and the youngsters… a chance to impress, and push for a place… in the next Premier League starting lineup.
Our squad depth has been well documented, so regardless of who plays… I’m not expecting a major drop-off in quality.
It’ll be interesting to see how this game is officiated, after Arteta’s comments regarding the ref, and the VAR team, after the Sunderland game.
The starting lineup was Kepa in goal, Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back, Marli Salmon and Gabriel, central… and with Benny Blanco injured, and Timber only just back from injury… Zubimendi started at right-back.
In midfield it was Bruno Guimaraes, Merino, and ahead of them… it was Eze on the left, Max “The Wonderkid” Dowman, in the No.10 role… and Madueke on the right.
Viktor Gyokeres started up top.
Not the usual starting 11, as expected… but a strong team, nonetheless.
The way we started the game, underlined the aforementioned strength… and as early as the 7th minute, Max “The Wonderkid” Dowman, opened the scoring.
We were closing them down high up the pitch, and it forced them into an error, and they lost possession.
Eze picked up the ball, and rolled it to Dowman… who glided past the defender, ran at another… and his quick feet, and drop of the shoulder, sent the Ipswich defender to an undiscovered shadow realm, against his will.
Dowman then smashed it past the keeper emphatically. It was a great goal from the young man. 1-0 to The Arsenal!!
Max makes it extremely hard not to get overly excited, about his place in the team. He makes everybody that watches him forgetful, because we have to constantly be reminded… that he’s only 16 years old, and he’s playing at this level… looking right at home, against Premier League opposition.
We were all over them, relentless in attack… and our intelligent movement, and the speed with which we moved the ball… left The Tractor Boys looking like scarecrows.
In the 16th minute, we had doubled our lead. The high press was their undoing, once again.
Merino gathered the ball, chipped it to Madueke in their box… and he finished on the half-volley, with his left foot. 2-0 to The Arsenal!! It began to look like a long night for Ipswich Town.
The first half finished 2-0, but it felt like more of a hammering, as the Ipswich players were only there just to make up the numbers, in that first 45 minutes.
Gabriel Magalhaes was taken off at half-time, and was replaced by Ezri Konsa.
We had the luxury of giving Gabriel a rest, and that rest-bite, and squad rotation in general… will be a huge benefit to the team, in the latter stages of the season.
The Gunners started the second half, just as quickly as they did the first… except this time, it only took 2 minutes to score.
In the 47th minute, Zubimendi poked the ball into Dowman, and with still a lot to do… he effortlessly guided it past the keeper, by way of his far post. 3-0 to The Arsenal, and a second goal for Max Dowman. Surreal composure shown, from the school-leaver.
The Gunners continued to fire upon The Tractor Boys, and they just couldn’t take cover, and lacked the required artillery, to return fire.
In the 58th minute, Merino picked up the ball on the edge of the Ipswich box, and he didn’t give the keeper a chance to set himself… and he let fly with a low drive, that hit the post on the way in. We are LOVING hitting the woodwork at the moment, when scoring a goal. Long may it continue! 4-0 to The Arsenal!!
This match is about as one-sided, as one-sided can be… we’ll get 6 or 7, I thought.
I thought… wrong.
In the 62nd minute, we got caught on the counter-attack… and Mehmeti pulled a goal back for them, and it was good finish, but who cares.
I was annoyed that we conceded, because they DIDN’T deserve that goal… BUT… at the same time, we had taken our foot off the gas, which IS understandable… but it also means, we have to take some of the blame. The scoreline now 4-1.
I got a grip of the situation, and remembered that we had 2 midfielders at left, and right-back, and we also had young players in the mix.
How could I possibly expect a clean sheet?! I’m being greedy.
Youngster Theo Julienne, replaced Bruno Guimaraes in the 64th minute. It warmed my heart to see Arteta giving so many academy players, a chance to showcase their talent.
Bruno had a good a game, and was orchestrating things in the midfield. He keeps giving us examples, of why it was imperative… that we added him to our ranks.
He’s going to be special this season… and I have no doubt about that, whatsoever.
In the 76th minute, Tzolis came on for Eze, and Odegaard replaced Madueke.
Eze had a better cameo than the others he’s had this season, but his level was still below the high standard he showed us last season.
Gyokeres was also waaaaaay below the required level, for THIS Arsenal team… and I feel a little bit sorry for him, because he was an integral part of our title winning team.
I do believe he’ll improve, because talent doesn’t just suddenly disappear. He needs a run of games.
In the 85th minute, 18 year old Ife Ibrahim… came on for Zubimendi.
Zoobaah-Zoobaah had a decent game, considering he played ar right-back. He got an assist too.
In injury time, Akpom made it 4-2… and I couldn’t believe the goal stood, as it was a balatnt foul on Lewis-Skeely. Akpom dragged him to the ground, clumsily… and nonchalantly.
The referee wasn’t interested.
So, 4-2 the final score… and The Arsenal, through to the next round.
Now of course Max Dowman will get all the plaudits, after scoring 2and getting an assist… and rightly so.
It’d be criminal not to mention Marli Salmon though… who was impeccable at the back.
His decision making was excellent, he can pass, he can tackle, he’s good in the air… and he has composure on the ball, for days!
Yes, this was a good win… but it was also an excellent advert, for The Arsenal academy.
Oh, by the way… We’ve now scored a total of 16 goals, in all competitions, and they’ve ALL been from open play. The media however, have been quieter than a dead church mouse, in a soundproof room… about this.
When we were scoring from set-pieces, they were shouting it from the mountaintops, and were unrelenting… in their mission to discredit our football.
They need to be as loud with the praise, as they were, with the disrespect.
Perhaps they all have laryngitis.
Should Marli Salmon be included in our next matchday squad?
Would you sell Gyokeres in January?
Is Arteta’s system too demanding on our full-backs, and that’s why they always get injured? (The right side in particular)
Let me know in the comments, as usual… and thanks for reading. COYG!!
Please check out my YouTube channel: @Gunnersayit
Also check out my TikTok: @gunnersayit.com
Leave a Reply