Arsenal vs. Doncaster Rovers
Carabao Cup
Wednesday 20th September 2017
As autumn dawns and it gets colder, the League Cup’s sponsors are a cold drink too. I don’t drink energy drinks that much, but then this isn’t a “monster” tie. Nor will this tie have a strong bite to it, like a “gator”(ade). Sorry, I couldn’t resist it. I guess it’s as interesting as being sponsored by the Milk Board, Littlewoods Pools, Rumbelows, or Coca-Cola.
Wenger has never won the League Cup, but I doubt this is high on his priorities. He, and us to be fair, might still be pleased at our Chelsea draw. Though I think he will play a Europa League-esque team here.
Doncaster will be here for the day (or night) out, and who knows, could be looking to get it to penalties. And to use a cliché, penalties are a lottery. However, they cannot defend for 120 minutes, and even without the big guns, we should be looking to get into round four here.
A chance for Reiss to shine?
This should be good for Nelson, Maitland-Niles, and Holding and Chambers, to get some practice in, though I suspect Per and Elneny may get run-outs.
Additional queries are:
– Will Ozil feature?
– Will Alexis feature, to get more game time/match fitness?
– Will we see Jack back?
This game seems well suited to Wilshere returning for full ninety minutes, though who knows, Alexis may get on the bench.
RESULT
Arsenal 3-0 Doncaster Rovers
I cannot see anything bar an Arsenal win here. Doncaster will make things difficult, or try to, but then our second string will be too much for them.
A certain manager, however, said that he doesn’t value this competition, despite it being the only cup his club has won in thirty years. He may not be so cocky, considering their last decent trophy was in the early nineties. They’re not big enough to have gone nearly sixty years without winning the league, clearly.
Fergie Jr.
Speaking of managers – can Ferguson Jr. Pull one off against his Dad’s greatest rival. Yes – Darren Ferguson is the Doncaster gaffer, and no doubt his dad, Sir Alex will have fee him a tip or two on how to deal with Arséne. (Especially seeing Wenger hasn’t changed much since those days…)
MarbleHallsTV is an Arsenal social media account on Twitter, Facebook and Youtube. Been a Gooner since the 90s, inspired by Ian Wright, then Bergkamp, Vieira, Henry, Pires, Campbell, Rosicky, Koscielny, Ozil and Sanchez. A digital marketer/entrpreneur by profession, born in UK living in the Americas now.
Going into this tie, we should be confident, but not cocky. We all know too well what happens when we’re cocky…