Every time I see fans use our lack of League Cups as a stick to beat us with I laugh. I really do not care that we have not won it since 1993. It merely shows that in that time we have had bigger fish to fry.
During the peak Arsene Wenger years, from 1996 to 2006, the League Cup was looked at with disdain by top clubs.
As the Champions League extended, teams became less bother by England’s 3rd most prestigious trophy and basically “put out the kids”. In reality, with smaller squads back then, these kids were also sides back up players. Their second XI.
From 1997 to 2005, neither Arsenal or Manchester United won the League Cup. This despite them sharing every league title except for 2004/05. The competition become one for the mid-table teams. Leicester City, Chelsea. Tottenham, Liverpool, Blackburn and Middlesbrough.
Then Roman Abramovich turned up with his dirty money and Chelsea suddenly had two squads. No longer was their “2nd XI” mainly prospects. They won two out of 3 League Cups in a period under Jose Mourinho where they also won the league twice. And then the competition returned to being dominated by “also rans”.
In a 7-year period from 2007 to 2013, no team won the Premier League and League Cup in the same year. It quickly became a runners-up prize.
Arsenal missed out during this period, losing to Birmingham City in the final. This time coincided with our toughest period where financial restraints meant that our first XI was now filled with kids, and our 2nd XI was basically filled with teenagers. We were struggling to compete against sides who were gaining greater strength in depth.
From 2014, Manchester City showed their dominance and have won 6 League Cups in 8. They were Chelsea on steroids, and their 2nd XI was filled with regular internationals. ÂŁ50m players. That enabled them to navigate those early stages of the competition.
At the same time, those clubs in the middle of the Premier League followed top sides lead and begun putting out weaker XIs. Your Tottenham’s Aston Villa’s and Everton’s deciding that their Premier League survival was more important than winning a trophy. The result was Manchester City’s path to the final became even easier as their 2nd XI was vastly superior to the 2nd XI of their opponents.
In last couple of years, the League Cup has once again become the trophy of the also rans, with Liverpool winning it twice and Manchester United once.
Now I do agree that Mikel Arteta needs to get more trophies on the board. One FA Cup in 4 seasons is not particularly impressive. But I can handle that if he lands us the big one. And I would happily sacrifice another decade of League Cup success if it meant us winning the Premier League just once.
So tonight we face Bolton, and off the back of 3 tough away games in a row, I expect Arteta to rest and rotate his troops.
With Neto cup tied having played for Bournemouth, 3rd choice Tommy Setford is in line for his first start.
The 18-year-old is highly rated having joined in the summer from Ajax. He will likely be in a straight-out battle with Karl Hein next season to be backup to David Raya. Although I also would not be surprised if the Neto deal is made permanent and that battle happens in a further season or two.
The defence is a bit of a headache for Arteta.
Jakub Kiwor will obviously start, but who is alongside him in the back 4 is anyone guess.
I am sure Arteta would have liked to have rested both William Saliba and Gabriel, the pair having played every minute so far this season. But with Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney out, and Ben White, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori doubtful, he might have to play at least one. I would probably go for Saliba for the balance.
I expect young Myles Lewis-Skelly to come in at left back. The League Cup could be a great tournament for him to show that he is ready to be a factor in Arteta’s thinking moving forward. Right back is more awkward.
Over the summer, Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Reuell Walters and Cedric Soares all moved on. The next in line in the youth team is 18-year-old Josh Nichols. He is the only realistic choice unless either Timber or White recovers. The youngsters inclusion will be another reason why I would expect Saliba to start.
Moving into midfield, Jorginho is a shoe in, and I would expect him to captain the team.
I expect Raheem Sterling and Ethan Nwaneri to both get their first starts. they will be joined by Gabriel Martinelli. Some might be surprised by my inclusion of the Brazilian, but my thinking is simple.
With Leandro Trossard suspended tonight, he gets an enforced mid-week rest. The result is Martinelli plays tonight, and then Trossard starts against Leicester City on Saturday. I expect Arteta to continue rotating the pair midweek and weekends (and we might start to see similar with Sterling and Saka).
the one remaining midfield spot is up for grabs, and it could depend on how Arteta plans to line up against Leicester City.
Thomas Partey is another to have played every Premier League minute this season, but is due a break. That will either happen tonight or on Saturday.
Arteta might choose to go with only Declan Rice in midfield at home to Leicester, then play Kai Havertz in behind Gabriel Jesus. The result will be Partey drops to the bench for the Premier League match, and Rice does not play tonight. However, if Arteta decides to go with Rice and Partey, then I expect to see the Englishman start tonight. He has played the least minutes following his suspension against Tottenham.
Another option would be Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand. However he played 70 minutes against Stoke City for the U21s on Monday.
My bet is we will go for Partey, for at least the first half. And then maybe bring on Declan Rice for the second.
Up front will be Gabriel Jesus.
Predicted XI:
Setford
Nichols Saliba Kiwior Lewis-Skelly
Jorginho Partey
Sterling Nwaneri Martinelli
Jesus
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 