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.
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67 responses so far ↓
1 Graeme // Sep 25, 2007 at 10:16
Ed, 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!!!
2 les // Sep 25, 2007 at 10:22
the 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)
3 Sue // Sep 25, 2007 at 10:24
Who exactly are Arse Nils?
4 Gun // Sep 25, 2007 at 10:37
The Gunners will have the last laugh! Wait and see. That Newcastle team will be stuffed today. Gunners will win 3-0.
5 Toon Chicken // Sep 25, 2007 at 10:37
Reckon 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??
6 Sue // Sep 25, 2007 at 10:40
Isn’t Fabianski Poland’s National Goalkeeper?
I somehow doubt he will be too nervous then.
7 Toon Chicken // Sep 25, 2007 at 10:51
He’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.
8 Bobby Ollox // Sep 25, 2007 at 10:53
If 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.
9 Tim // Sep 25, 2007 at 10:56
Anyone knows what channel (if any) will show the game?
10 Craig Allen // Sep 25, 2007 at 10:56
While 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.
11 Rich // Sep 25, 2007 at 10:58
Id 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.
12 Toon Chicken // Sep 25, 2007 at 10:59
If 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!
13 Toon Chicken // Sep 25, 2007 at 11:00
yep, agree with you Rich - that’s the same team I posted yesterday.
14 Craig Allen // Sep 25, 2007 at 11:07
forgot 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.
15 ToonKing // Sep 25, 2007 at 11:08
@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.
16 Craig Allen // Sep 25, 2007 at 11:09
Tim, 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
======================
17 subz // Sep 25, 2007 at 11:10
You would think that this would be an attractive game to watch, but no!!!! not one station anywhere in the world is showing it. BOLLOCKS
18 Sue // Sep 25, 2007 at 11:15
Toon 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.
19 Tim // Sep 25, 2007 at 11:17
Thanks guys! With a nice fixture like this, you’d expect someone would show it. It’s a pity…
20 Craig Allen // Sep 25, 2007 at 11:18
Official site says Emre’s ready. Also says Viduka has “kick to the foot injury”
not hamstring, Ed.
21 Sue // Sep 25, 2007 at 11:22
Arsenal’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
22 Toon Chicken // Sep 25, 2007 at 11:31
Sue, 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.
23 Craig Allen // Sep 25, 2007 at 11:40
According to nufc, all 60k tickets are sold - 60000 at the emirates for a carling cup midweek tie, wow.
24 Stami // Sep 25, 2007 at 11:50
i 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!!!
25 col // Sep 25, 2007 at 11:50
according to the bbc website, the match has live commentary tonight on radio five live…match highlights will probs be on the box later tonight.
26 nufcstats.com // Sep 25, 2007 at 11:51
if 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…
27 Craig Allen // Sep 25, 2007 at 11:51
That’s the pool v reading game, Stami. Check your listings you’ll see.
28 col // Sep 25, 2007 at 11:52
as for the result…i will go for a full time/ extra time draw…and newcastle to win it on pens…….
29 norman // Sep 25, 2007 at 11:59
This 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!!!
30 norman // Sep 25, 2007 at 12:00
Stami, I live in JHB and I checked last night bud, they are showing the Liverpool game not the Arsenal game.
31 les // Sep 25, 2007 at 12:01
christ, we got song as centre half? ffs he worst than bramble/boumsong combined
32 Jockdownsouth // Sep 25, 2007 at 12:21
Gooner 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.
33 MektiG // Sep 25, 2007 at 12:26
Given
Beye Taylor Rozehnal Enrique
Geremi Faye Emre
Martins Smith N’Zogbia
34 Toon Chicken // Sep 25, 2007 at 12:32
norman - last time I looked the Emirates pitch was covered in grass, not paper.
35 Sue // Sep 25, 2007 at 12:33
It 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
36 jassim // Sep 25, 2007 at 12:36
the 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…
37 Hadji // Sep 25, 2007 at 12:48
What’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
38 Hadji // Sep 25, 2007 at 12:49
I believe in my team and i believe in Sam.
39 Sue // Sep 25, 2007 at 12:51
I would have thought motivation was on both sides.
40 Craig Allen // Sep 25, 2007 at 12:59
forget 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
41 apan // Sep 25, 2007 at 13:08
The meeting at The Madejski Stadium, live on Sky Sports 2, is one of two all-Premier League affairs as Arsenal welcome Newcastle United to North London.
i dont have sky sports 2 in malaysia, but i do have al jazeera news but not sports urgh i want to watch this crackin game!
42 Craig Allen // Sep 25, 2007 at 13:14
Found this site listing the frequencies - not sure if I can post it here, so feel free to delete this Ed, if I’m not allowed to
http://www.goalzz.com/main.aspx?channel=642
The al jazeera sport site is helpful ….. if you can read arabic! Unfortunately they don’t seem to have that handy language selector feature.
43 Hadji // Sep 25, 2007 at 13:32
All of you Gooners who think you’re so tough cause you had a good run with your team,don’t think that this is gonna be a walk in the park.
Nothing lasts forever,and maybe tonight you’ll run out of luck.
44 Cam_Toon // Sep 25, 2007 at 13:35
So many Goons…. so little sence.
Your kids were solid last season against the Rats kids… most of your squad have never played a prem match yet… esp those up front. Yes they are great prospects but against a strong Toon squad… lol deluded.
2-0 Toon… Martins, and Roze.
3-1 Goons.. lol do me a fav…
45 Toon Chicken // Sep 25, 2007 at 13:38
Sue, are you a gooner? If so, what are you doing on here - shouldn’t you be on goons’r'us.com or something?
46 Craig Allen // Sep 25, 2007 at 13:44
taxi for Sue
47 Hadji // Sep 25, 2007 at 14:07
ToonChicken…Hahahahahaha
That was funny man
Taxi for Sue please,ou Sue could you make space for your partner Gun.
48 les // Sep 25, 2007 at 14:12
The only record 4 toon is being the only team 2 lose 2 derby this season…….as 4 US being on here, it appears in newsnow, and if u knew your history we HATE big sam
49 norman // Sep 25, 2007 at 14:15
i thought the newcastle fans enjoyed a little banter…or is the nerves getting to you? You certianly have a lot more to loose here than arsenal. Fat Sam may have had a team in Bolton that got the better of Arsenal on the odd occasion but NC will be different. The reason Arsenal do so well in this competition is because they play with no expectation. The fans will forgive them if they are knocked out. The manager tells them just to have fun and get experience. Qualification to the next round is a bonus and its that freedom that makes them so dangerous. Loose to these kids and suddenly the pressure on the rest of the season mounts because realistically, apart from an outside FA cup shot. This is your one tournament for success.
50 norman // Sep 25, 2007 at 14:16
But I promise to come say hello one way or another tomorrow. Either I will be rubbing salt or accepting a wedgy.
Good luck for tonight, I mean that!
51 Stevep // Sep 25, 2007 at 14:27
@norman - agreed, this is our only realistic chance of silverware this season - however I wouldn’t be to upset if we lose tonight as long as we can get a top six finish and therefore Europe next season
we have to remember how bad we’ve been over the last few seasons
Still reckon we can win tonight though.
3-1 to toon
52 Craig Allen // Sep 25, 2007 at 14:46
norman, I doubt that we have more to lose - there was a lot of expectation management prior to the beginning of the season and I’m sure if you ask any nufc supporter, the carling cup wasn’t looked at as an all or nothing target. I, personally, wouldn’t mind a finish in the league that allows us to compete against euro competition, anything/everything else is just a bonus (to me) - that said, I’m sure we’ll win this one tonight!
53 Toon Chicken // Sep 25, 2007 at 14:56
Les - you hating BSA is YOUR petty history - not ours, mate!
54 les // Sep 25, 2007 at 15:04
fair point
55 Craig Allen // Sep 25, 2007 at 15:05
taxi for les
56 les // Sep 25, 2007 at 15:10
it was funny the 1st time……for those who see the game, enjoy, i look forward to seeing Martins…….
57 Craig Allen // Sep 25, 2007 at 15:39
and I look forward to seeing Henry score the winner against his former club … now quick, the meter’s running and Sue’s impatient.
58 Hadji // Sep 25, 2007 at 17:10
Craig Allen…Why taxi man thats too expensive for the Gooners.
59 Sinead // Sep 25, 2007 at 18:54
Hadji..
“All of you Gooners who think you’re so tough cause you had a good run with your team,don’t think that this is gonna be a walk in the park.
Nothing lasts forever,and maybe tonight you’ll run out of luck.”
Look at your comments and replace Gooners with Toon’s and well ya. It’s kinda funny. Cause well they’re top of the league and infairness and well, up to about a week ago (and well still now) people were thinking the exact same thing about ye. The only difference is that the talent in Arsenal is unreal, like Fabregas he’s 20 like and he’s allready like so much ahead of nearly everyone else right now. Wenger spent so much time developing this young new side and spent very little in the summer market and the way they’re playing (unfortunatley) deserve to be on top. They’re likely to win a cup this year, and well Newcastle aren’t. They can but not the premiership, not the Champions League (obviously) maybe a cup like the Carling cup or something like but that’s it. Aresnal has the class and right now they’re streets ahead of Newcastle and alot of other clubs aswell.
60 Tom // Sep 25, 2007 at 19:16
wow… i think you need to chill out a bit and actually enjoy the game. Arsenal should win on paper but the game isnt played on paper is it? Anything can happen, and with the team Sam’s putting out I would not be surprised by a Newcastle win tonight
61 Tom_toon // Sep 25, 2007 at 19:26
Arsenal shouldnt win on paper today. Look at there CB pairing. Song and Senderos in my opinion thats almost as bad as Bramble and Boumsong.
62 Sean // Sep 25, 2007 at 19:31
News just in says smith and martins to start up front
63 Ashton // Sep 25, 2007 at 19:54
for all arsenal fan’s you guys dont have any english player in you’r squad you play weak over weak with no english or british players just sod off and buy more french muppets !!
64 Tom_toon // Sep 25, 2007 at 19:56
Radio and Corusework for me, hows enrique playing?
65 les // Sep 26, 2007 at 2:58
craig, taxi just dropped me off from emirates…….did your team turn up for our kids?
66 Craig Allen // Sep 26, 2007 at 6:32
nah they didn’t. The fare’s on me.
67 norman // Sep 26, 2007 at 10:53
Oooooooooops….2-0. It was left late but totally deserved. Like I said yesterday, these kids play with the freedom of no expectation. I will admit that I was surprised by the dominance over NC.
Well done kids. Round 4 here we come.
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