I know I said I cared less about the Carling Cup but this is against a club that looks to be a Premiership opponent next season. Reading are currently in first in the Championship and are running away from the pack. They sit four points ahead of Sheffield United and have an unbeaten streak that goes on for 23 matches.
Equipped with the Championship’s best defense, Reading have given up just 11 goals in 21 league matches. They appear to sit with the same back four: Sonko, Shorey, Murty and Ingmarsson. The four stay flat and don’t move up very often.( I’m basing this on SkySports highlight reels.)
Reading have the league’s second best offense with 38 goals in 21 league matches. Kevin Doyle leads the team in scoring with 7, in all competitions. Leroy Lita, who has been paired with Doyle as of late, has not made much of a mark. The remaining goals are spread amongst a group of speedy and aggressive midfielders. Harper,Little and Sidwell are usually three of the four in the middle. The most impressive and solid midfielder has got to be Bobby Convey. The former DC United, rumored Spur and US International has made an appearance in every match this season. He’s a tricky character with great skill and good speed. I’m most impressed with the determination he shows and the fun he has on the pitch.
If Wenger wants an exit to this competition, I believe Reading is a club that will give it to him. Certainly I understand why he would rest the starting XI. The outcome of this match lies on solely on the team he fields.
Arsenal XI 2-0 Reading
Arsenal second string 1-1 Reading
I never predict a loss no matter what is against the Gunners.
44 Responses to “Carling Cup Opponent- Reading”
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November 28th, 2005 at 4:30 pm
It will be interesting to see how the ex-Gunner boy Steven Sidwell perform. He was voted the best player outside of the Premiership last season.
A little side note: Arsenal has a 100% record at Highbury so far this season (in all competition). No matter how our season is going to end up, it’ll be nice if we can win all our home game this season (or unbeaten), wouldn’t it be a nice way to finish our final season at Highbury?!
November 28th, 2005 at 5:17 pm
I think it would be excellent to go unbeaten in our final season at Highbury. Good point Andez.
Field a young team Mr.Wenger. Don’t overwork Sol Campbell, Thierry Henry etc…
If we win, bonus.
It should be a tough match regardless.
2-1 to the Asrenal.
November 28th, 2005 at 5:24 pm
This is what we in the States call a trap game. I can see Arsenal dropping this one as we look at other competitions and maybe take this Carling Cup game for granted.
November 28th, 2005 at 5:30 pm
agree stag. our young players had done pretty well in this competition last season. they deserve another run. i’m quite confident they will be up to the job. i don’t think AW will risk Titi and Sol. but probably Hleb will get a game to get himself into match fitness.
actually i think since few ppl really taken this competition seriously these days, why not make it a Under 23 competition? Or like Olympia, there must be a certain amont of players who’s under 23 to play in it. Perhaps the sponser won’t like the idea, but from a competitiveness point of view, all the young players for every team will be hunger to prove themselves, there will probably be more fire and desire in the matches. Besides, it probably would help the youth development for the clubs. It’d also be a competition to see which club has the best youngsters in England.
November 28th, 2005 at 6:04 pm
Not Exactly Rick.
Dont forget we have the most Envied youth system on the planet. I am seeing AL, JAR and RvP shaking the nets.
If we are to lose, Reading have to score 4.
November 28th, 2005 at 11:34 pm
We have the most envied youth system on the planet?? IN OUR OWN MINDS perhaps!
That vaunted youth system hasn’t exactly produced star after star… they mostly get loaned out and go on to mediorcity in the EPL.
Upson, BoaMorte, Pennant, etc…
November 28th, 2005 at 11:37 pm
I miss Boa Morte in particular. He had an ace name. “Good Death.” If that’s not mob hitmanesque, I don’t know what is.
November 28th, 2005 at 11:57 pm
Well, Wenger is definitely going with the KIDS on Tuesday Night. Should be an interesting line-up and a BIG TEST for the youngsters.
We could lose this match, or the kids might just SHINE and surprise us all. Exciting!
FROM ARSENAL.COM
______________________
Ars?ne Wenger has named the following squad for the Carling Cup Fifth Round tie with Reading at Highbury on Tuesday, November 29:
Manuel Almunia
Mart Poom
Kerrea Gilbert
Emmanuel Eboue
Johann Djourou
Philippe Senderos
Quincy
Fabrice Muamba
Mathieu Flamini
Sebastian Larsson
Robin van Persie
Arturo Lupoli
Nicklas Bendtner
Matthew Connolly
Pascal Cygan
Jose Antonio Reyes
November 29th, 2005 at 12:55 am
Reading might be running away from the pack at the moment, but anything can happen in the Championship. Just sometime back, Sheffield United were running away, but now they are second.
Reyes has been named in the side. This is a clear indication that Wenger sees Reyes as low on confidence. If this is what it takes to regain it, then so be it.
Whenever RvP plays in the Carling Cup, he scores. In tonight’s game, he might have Fabregas and Reyes supplying the assists. Much will depend on the defence. Senderos, Cygan, Eboue and maybe Larsson should be good enough. I see a 2-0 or 2-1 win.
November 29th, 2005 at 2:38 am
Sorry, I didn’t realise that Fabregas is not part of the team. The midfield should have Flamini, Reyes and Muamba. It should still be enough.
November 29th, 2005 at 3:40 am
Nuts! Have you guys forgotten that our boys beat championship and premier league team every year in this competition. What’s so different about Reading? They’re going to lose just like every one else.
November 29th, 2005 at 8:24 am
Only need to say one name: Arturo Lupoli. He’ll cover for the rest.
November 29th, 2005 at 8:33 am
Reading are on a roll. A serious roll. They’re brimming with confidence, and are a more quality side than the bottom 5 on our table. And we all know how we can fair in games where we really don’t care.
Remember Sheffield United in the FA Cup.
They are better than Thun.
They are at least as good as West Brom.
One thing we do have going for us is they have a lot to lose as well by playing their best. They’re not a side who are looking to the Carling Cup as their one chance for glory. They want to come up. Which means the possiblity of two Americans playing at Highbury tonight: Hahnemann (sic) and Convey. The idea that Bobby Convey is going to play our lads at home still blows me away, as I follow the U.S Men’s team very closely.
I say Lupoli will do the business, though. 2-1, like you lot.
November 29th, 2005 at 8:34 am
Just thought of something. Our kids DO care. A lot. They want in the first team so bad they can taste it.
3-1.
November 29th, 2005 at 12:30 pm
I sure hope Poom starts.
November 29th, 2005 at 12:37 pm
Being Italian-American… I have a little extra rooting interest in LUPOLI!
but the jury is still out on ALL these kids.
November 29th, 2005 at 12:38 pm
Could be tricky, or we might win comfortably - the latter is more probable. Sunderland eased the division last year, look at them now. No strikers, no goals.
There really is a huge gulf between the divisions.
November 29th, 2005 at 1:14 pm
And yet West Ham and Wigan are going on strong. Hard to predict which Championship opponent will be a tough nut on the day really.
I say we’ll breeze it, 4-nil.
November 29th, 2005 at 2:04 pm
I hope you are right, but I think we’ll struggle.
We could lose this one.
Its simply not important to us.
November 29th, 2005 at 3:11 pm
REYES! 1 nil with about 15 left in the first half.
Even the net looked surprised.
Let’s be ‘aving you!
November 29th, 2005 at 3:45 pm
Yeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaw.
2-0 good guys!
The Men… Reyes & VanPersie… have netted the goals. Let’s hope we get another and bring on some kids for the experience!
yeeeeeeeeeeeeees!
November 29th, 2005 at 3:48 pm
Halfway there to 4-nil
Lupoli and Quincy goals to round off the day
November 29th, 2005 at 3:49 pm
Don’t know if any of you have found this yet, but listen here (local Berkshire). Warning: announcers are annoyingly Reading biased. But, whattaya want?
http://tinyurl.com/ey5an
November 29th, 2005 at 3:49 pm
That would be pretty spectacular.
I’d love to see either of them get on the score sheet. I believe Quincy set up Reyes.
November 29th, 2005 at 3:51 pm
How do you make that tinyurl link, Scotty?
November 29th, 2005 at 3:54 pm
Go to tinyurl.com and just paste it in. Takes two seconds.
November 29th, 2005 at 4:03 pm
Cool thanks mate.
November 29th, 2005 at 4:10 pm
Just need Quincy to score now…
November 29th, 2005 at 4:12 pm
Just about there!
November 29th, 2005 at 4:13 pm
How funny is this broadcast!
These guy’s are crying, making excuses, calling us primadonnas…too funny!
“Are you Tottenum in disguise”, they’re singing. Hilarious.
November 29th, 2005 at 4:45 pm
Now if only I had put a few quid on that prediction.
November 29th, 2005 at 4:53 pm
Very Good Win for the youngsters (and Cygan!)…
and …
2nd Division Doncaster
(League One its called now?!)
BEATS VILLA!!
How’s dat?!
November 29th, 2005 at 5:09 pm
They were ridiculous. They were saying something along the lines of Arsenal won’t find it so easy against Reading next year if the royals get promoted because Reading would have strengthened their squad. He seemed to forget we were playing our reserve team. You knew Arsenal had the ball when they went off on a tangant and only commentated when Reading were attacking. Clowns.
November 29th, 2005 at 5:10 pm
Cygan only played the last 15 minutes.
Good result from the kids though. - most Premiership teams who put a team out that young would have struggled.
November 29th, 2005 at 5:17 pm
You’re right Danny, they would not have looked so tight. I”m so proud of our youngsters…this is what Wenger is betting on and I say he’s on the right side of the bet.
November 29th, 2005 at 5:18 pm
Arsenal are almost becoming the complete opposite of themselves overnight. Instead of dominating games and missing chances we’re spending time chasing and making our chances count. I definately prefer the latter, unless cygan is playing.
November 29th, 2005 at 5:25 pm
Obviously, I didn’t see the match…
but from the accounts that I have read, Reading created some chances… and the defense was not exactly tight! Senderos was saved blushes by Almunia, who apparently played very well.
Good stuff from the kids. They have played well in this competition 3 years straight. Nothing wrong with that… its not against an EPL team of course, but it is encouraging.
November 30th, 2005 at 12:50 pm
Is anyone else having problems seeing comments in the top article???
November 30th, 2005 at 1:27 pm
Yes. Can’t read the comments.
November 30th, 2005 at 2:30 pm
good, i’m not going crazy, then.
November 30th, 2005 at 2:30 pm
Me neither Scotty. the weird part is you keep seeing the comments added up, i wonder how ppl are able to post them…
November 30th, 2005 at 2:38 pm
btw, johnathan Stead Vs Peter Crouch, one cost 3 millions, one cost 7 millions. Together they have combined to score 0 goal. Wanna bet who’s going to break the deadlock first?
Amazing thing is one of them actually is playing for England. Ian Wright must be kicking himself for having born so early, particular when u consider when Ian won the Golden Boot of the League, yet he’s still not getting picked.
November 30th, 2005 at 2:40 pm
Well I posted a comment asking why I couldn’t read the comments because I thought I might activate it or something. Thought It might be a future proviso for viewing comments- having to post something to see the rest. Safe to say that theory has been blown out of the water. What the funk is going on?
November 30th, 2005 at 2:50 pm
Heh, good points.
Shame about the top article. In a few moments of spontaneous brilliance, I had completely laid out a plan to assure Arsenal the treble for ten years running in the new staidum while descreasing gate prices, and free plane tickets to all ArseAm members. Shame we’ll never get to see it.