Arsenal vs Southampton: It’s time for Arsene Wenger to finally start taking the EFL Cup seriously… starting with Saints
Gunners blogger AFCAMDEN believes that the EFL Cup is there for the taking - and Wenger should no longer use it as a youth exercise
ARSENAL will be taking on an in-form Southampton side in the League Cup tonight – with the competition likely to be the club’s best chance of silverware this season.
The Gunners - who currently sit 4th in the Premier League and are almost certainly resigned to 2nd spot in their Champions League group - have a chance to secure a semi-final berth in a competition that Arsene Wenger has yet to win.
With the influx of world class managers to the Premier League, it has arguably made the division the strongest since its inception.
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That leaves the League Cup - which has seen Manchester City, Chelsea and Spurs exit already - as one of the more realistic opportunities to put some silverware on the Gunners mantelpiece.
And I say it’s about time for the Arsenal boss to treat it as exactly that: an opportunity to land a much needed trophy.
In previous seasons Wenger has used the tournament as a breeding ground for some of Arsenal’s younger talent.
In the 2007 League Cup Final, their outfield players had an average age of 21 and were eventually beaten by a Chelsea side which included the likes of Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack & Didier Drogba.
This time around, the Frenchman needs to find a better balance between youth and experience – and he finally has the squad at his disposal to do it.
More reason for this is the fact that Southampton will be no pushovers.
Arsenal have only won two of the previous six meetings between the clubs, a run which includes a 2-1 home defeat in this competition two seasons ago – so vigilance, couple with a strong squad, is paramount.
And I understand that Wenger will oblige, with the likes of Granit Xhaka, Aaron Ramsey, Francis Coquelin and Lucas Perez all set to be included.
Oliver Giroud, who was in line for a start, will sit out the game with a minor hamstring problem.
Arsenal have a big away game against West Ham in the league on Saturday – however the focus
needs to remain on tonight.
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Both Chelsea and City have used the League Cup as a springboard for Premier League success in the past three seasons and Arsenal need to look upon the competition as an opportunity to do the same.
A trophy in the middle of a Premier League title battle might just be enough to propel the players and manager to a first league title in 13 seasons.
Let’s hope the Gunners can maintain their current unbeaten run.
Score prediction from – 2-1 Arsenal after extra time.