Carabao Cup final preview: A chance for silverware and success

Morning all, it’s Carabao Cup final day.

It’s our first final since the FA Cup in 2020, and that was not a normal one as no fans were permitted in the stadium that day. It ended well, obviously, but it’s one that feels like it kind of belongs to a different era. Only one player from that match day squad remains at the club now, and Bukayo Saka didn’t get off the bench as we beat Chelsea. So, things have changed considerably since then.

In terms of today’s team, the big talking point is who starts in goal, and the information doing the rounds this morning is that it will be Kepa ahead of David Raya. Personally, I’d go with Raya, you pick your best team for a big game etc, but I can understand why Mikel Arteta has apparently made the decision he has. I think managers view these choices differently from fans, and there’s history and precedent for it too. In 2014, Lukasz Fabianski started the cup final ahead of the ‘number 1’ Wojciech Szczesny, and a year later when the latter had lost his place to David Ospina, he was back in for the final against Villa.

Even Pep Guardiola let it be known he’s going to pick James Trafford over Gianluigi Donnarumma, but perhaps you could argue he has the safety net of success and a track record of trophies that more easily allows him to make that decision. Arteta needs silverware more, so it’s a bigger risk, but hopefully the experienced Spaniard can do his part having played every game to get us to this point.

In defence, Jurrien Timber was in training so he’s the obvious pick at right back, and on the other side, I think he’ll go for Piero Hincapie knowing that if he needs to change the game a bit later on, the dynamic Riccardo Calafiori from the bench is a really good option in that sense. Midfield picks itself for me, with Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Eberechi Eze, and on the right there’s no question it’ll be Bukayo Saka.

The left is a bit more difficult, as we don’t quite know how fit Leandro Trossard is, but I think he’d be the manager’s choice if he’s ready. Then we have to think about the striker. In an ideal world, with both players fully fit and match sharp, my inclination is that Kai Havertz would get the nod from the manager, with Viktor Gyokeres an option to come off the bench against slightly jaded opposition defenders. I’m just not 100% sure we’re there with Havertz though, but at this point in the morning it’s hard to call. I’m gonna guess Havertz, but if it’s the other way around, it wouldn’t surprise me at all.

Then, with Martin Odegaard in the training pictures too, there are some decisions to make about the bench. We have 12 players seemingly available – David Raya, Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera, Riccardo Calafiori, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Odegaard, Christian Norgaard, Max Dowman, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke, and one of Gyokeres/Havertz. Arteta can pick a keeper and 8 more, so there are going to be some very disappointed players today, and that’s tough.

I think that with two left-backs in Hincapie and Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly could be one, and based on some previous selections, I’d add Norgaard. After that, your guess is as good as mine. Will Odegaard’s lack of recent action make that decision simple for the manager? Will he want to include the 16 year old wildcard of Dowman at the expense of a more senior attacking option? It’s not easy, but that’s why he gets paid the big bucks, and as I’ve said before, this is much better ‘problem’ than having to scrape a squad together.

We know what Man City are about, how strong they are, and you can take them for granted at your peril. I don’t think there’s a snowball’s chance in hell that Mikel Arteta will underestimate them, but it will be interesting to see how they set up. They’ve been a bit more varied in team selection of late, and it wouldn’t be unlike Guardiola to spring a surprise in a big game to try and unsettle the opposition manager’s best laid plans. Then it’s about how we might adapt tactically.

The last time we faced City in a final in 2018, the gulf between the two teams was immense. At that point it felt like a gap we might never close, and yet here we are. This is a different Arsenal, and one that now has a chance to demonstrate its quality by lifting some silverware after 6 years. Mikel Arteta says:

“We’re really prepared and confident that we’re going to make it happen. I’m excited, enthusiastic, and positive. When you have been in this position and gone years without winning a trophy, obviously it adds more necessity but as well more drive because you really want it. And that’s something that we have.

Having our supporters together, sharing the moment, makes it more special. We deserve to be in this position to be able to win a trophy, and it’s always what you want – to be able to share these moments with your people, so let’s make the most of that opportunity, and do it together.

Now it’s down to his preparation, and the players performing on the pitch later to make it happen. I know there’s been a lot of talk about what this game might mean for the title race etc, but I see it as completely distinct from that. It’s a one-off, a final, an opportunity for some success, but not one that means anything at all for the ‘bigger’ prizes on offer this season.

Today though, there is no game more important in our season. There’s nothing but full focus on this one, so let’s hope we can do ourselves justice, and come the final whistle we all have something to celebrate. It’s been too long.

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As ever, you can join us for live blog coverage later on, and we’ll have all the post-match stuff (report, player ratings etc) on Arseblog News.

Come on you reds!

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