Strange how the EFL Cup has become such so much fun. A few years ago it was just anther fixture to be got through in a busy PL/CL season and one we hoped would not result injuries; today it is (IMO) more interesting than Boro last w/e.
Why? Because:
A. It doesn’t really matter if we win or lose.
B. We get to see the depth of our squad and in particular the young stars of the future.
C. It is potential Silverware (though not open-bus through Islington silverware).
Tonight we entertain Reading. A Reading who not so long ago were a PL team with good players and Steve Coppell as manager. Not so any longer and one must wonder why. Reading is a rich town, has a fine ground with a good fanbase evidenced by an expected 5,000 travelling fans tonight.
They have a good man at the helm, Jap Stam is a proper bloke, anyone who stands up to the Whisky Sodden SAF is OK in my eyes; whether he is a good manager is another thing altogether but I wish him well.
Players? No idea. I only know Paul McShane, who plays FB for ROI, and Steven Quinn who played for Hull when we smashed 😀 them at Wembley in 2014.
Our team is just a guess. I am delighted that Corporal Jenkinson makes his Emirates return tonight and hope he has a brilliant game. Hector is just magic but we need a proper back up.
Anther player returning is Didit’s favourite player Mr Giroud. I look forward hearing that Beatles dirge at least once tonight.
My Team:
Martinez
Jenks Gabriel Holding Gibbs
Maitland-Niles Ox Elneney Iwobi
Riene-Adelaide Perez
This team has two chaps with double barrelled surnames. I like it. Could this be a marketing plan to increase the costs of replica shirts? If so, AW is a genius and expect more such signings.
I expect a tough but open game and hope for a win.
Actually what I really, really hope for is a repeat of the 7-5 of which I am sure Chas will find a video for our entertainment.
COYRRG
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Cheers, BR.
I’d guess that Giroud will start.
Chubby Atkins will be disappointed if he doesn’t play.
The prospect of some Jeff/Iwobi interplay is mouth-watering.
I think Maitland-Niles played right back against Forest though he does seem versatile.
As far as the 5-7 game is concerned. I plumped for this version as it seems to give slightly different camera shots than the normal match coverage. I wish I could remember more of that evening. 🙂
That team above is likely starting:
Emiliano; Jenkinson, Holding, Gabriel, Gibbs(C); Elneny, AMN; The Ox, The Jeff, Iwobi; Lucas
Bench:
Macey, Bielik, Zelalem, Giroud and 3 out of Chris Willock, Reiss Nelson, Marc Bola, Ben Sheaf and Stephy Mavididi who were training with the 1st team.
Akpom is currently injured with a back strain (no expected return date).
Great job, thanks Raddy. I agree, this is a game with no pressure (for the supporters any way) we can just relax and watch the football and marvel at our squad depth and the emerging talent 🙂
Thanks Erik
Yip, for the same reasons you give, I love this competition. I’d also very much like to see that XI of yours.
Quite apart from enjoying watching the young guns, it’s also an opportunity for Arsene to experiment with the ‘what if’s’ when so and so is injured. I’m thinking of an absent Mesut, or what are the best working combinations in the absence of either Coq or Santi, or even both.
And yes, Erik, I’m fully aware a dark cloud hovers
Not around at the moment, but hope to catch the game somehow
Excellent read BR.
It’s raining here in Barcelona do I get any sympathy probably not but hey ho someone has to be here.
Dark clouds may well hover – but life always offers a second chance – it’s known as Tomorrow.
thanks Raddy for the PM and the 7:5 reminder. That was the best game EVER 🙂 I like you don’t care who plays, as long as we win
LB – beautiful day in West End, raining in North London
Didit !!! where the heck were you? On the welcoming committee in Torrington greeting 35 year old children?
Been very quiet on AA since my return. Any ideas how we can generate more discussion?
yes Raddy, if we lose tonight there will be 10k hits tomorrow.
What happened to Kelsey, he always generated discussion. Unfortunately it appears the hits only go up when the boys lose a game. Tough to criticize the team at the moment, therefore the blogs are quiet.
Raddy is back! Raddy is back! 🙂
A nice gentle pre-match and part and parcel of the match day ritual.
I am looking forward to a great game, and win or lose, I want our youngsters to strut their stuff, but without the stress of having to win.
Not that I am anyone to listen to, but I lost some interest in AA myself when I did not get many responses to my comments (any – sometimes?) – no one wants to yack to oneself. 🙂
AA is a great blog site, but sometimes bloggers need to realise what a jewel they have, and
yackchat with others and don’t hang back.You are excellent Raddish, and the first to greet me on AA all those years ago. Thank you. And there are so many other fine AA bloggers too.
COYRRG and also COYRRAAers 😀
Hell, that’s good, BR.
Bloody hell Erik
11/11 in the hardest of circs
Incredible performance
Evening all, and whoever that is at 6:28
Probably a bloody foreigner, and talking of which, yes Eddie, I am in the welcoming party as it happens
Brilliant team prediction Raddy, an excellent side full of players hungry to make their mark.
Chas
What the hell are you doing here?
Likewise.
Oooops, I did forget two smiley faces after RA and Chas comments
Doesn’t appear to be on any tv prog
You’re not Chas Mobile as he’s normally at the game 🙂
Ah, I see what you mean?
We don’t go League Cup unless it’s away.
Give someone else a chance.
It’s a long schlep for a game you should win and isn’t already included in the price of your season ticket. (not that a ticket costs much)
Ah ok
Bugger it’s not on any channel
If anybody else is e as crazy as I am you can listen to the commentary on Arsenal .com.
Regarding the lack of responses to discussions – we’ve had some excellent posts recently with really naff titles. The first challenge is to get bloggers to click on the site and a thought provoking title is the only way to achieve that.
That’s that I guess 😦
Allowed myself little Arsenal match day breaks from my self imposed half term computer ban. Gutted is the word
Has anyone found a steam for our game?
If that’s the reason Rasp then I know the answer………………
We send in the posts and……………………..
You create the titles……………………
Job done 🙂 🙂 🙂
Hi GN5, I’ll always do anything I can to help 🙂
Raddy I fine it amazing that you have got the team selection 100% right. You should go out and buy a lottery ticket while your stars are still aligned.
Jenks should have put us one up. My sister would have buried the rebound
RA. Thank you for the kind words
GN5. I have been doing the lottery for years but never won 😟😟
didit – are you really??? well done Sir!! I was only mocking those saying some of the children have beards, Who cares? Those people lost everything, and even if they are 35 they are still somebody’s children. My son is a 32 year old baby 🙂
one good deed deserves another – here is the link for you Didit
http://www.tarjetarojaonline.org/soccer/arsenal-reading-rd1452da
Ahhhhh..Mrs Robinson 🙂
Might be cooking them a curry tomorrow. Best of luck with the rice lads 🙂
Cheers Eddie
Will try the link
oh, so you were only joking 😦 I am seriously considering taking a refugee girl in, why not?
Talking of lotteries Raddy – on Canadian lotteries – so far I have got 5 out 6 on 3 occasions, and 6 out of 7 on 2 different lotteries.
Around $15.000 winnings in 35 years but I keep wishing and hoping – in vain 🙂 🙂
this is not a great game.
And what was that about Perez being strictly left footed? So what is he doing on the right??
Eddie, I think that would be a wonderful thing to do, these poor souls must wonder if life is worth living. It would be really special for a youngster with no hope to be give a life changing opportunity.
Good for you 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Eddie – cutting in from the right gives a left footed player the whole width of the goal to shoot for.
For those who have no stream, we are playing some lovely football but the final ball has been poor
Ox — 1- 0
Wonderful finish from Ox across the keeper
ze Ox!!! what a goal
GN5 – that’s what I thought. I am going to make enquiries tomorrow, decided.
I can get a stream Raddy – but I’m always wary of viruses.
Rightly or wrongly they always make me too nervous to use.
How is Jenkinson looking Raddy?
GN5. He is looking good but not as good as Hector.
Eddie. Fine sentiment but I think you might fail the age test 😟
Is she too young Raddy?
That’s not surprising Raddy – do you think he will make an adequate back up /
ey? what age test? Is there a right or wrong age to look after a youngster? I hope you are wrong Raddy.
Anyway, Peaches must be sad her Tottenham pupils are losing 🙂
Gn5. Yes
Eddie. There is for fostering.
Our boys are playing some wonderful,entertaining stuff
Thanks for updates all
Eddie
Wasn’t joking.
Tried stream but too many nasty looking ads. Can’t afford a diseased device. It’s not as simple as a shot of penicillin 🙂
Is Jeff pulling the strings in the Mesut way?
Micky. He has been subbed but did well..
Noice
Reading keeper aal Habsi having a fine game
Thanks. Damn, I really wanted to watch this 😦
Giroud looking sharp 🙂 🙂 🙂
Noice? Don’t care. Like the word 🙂
Oh FFS 🙂
As you say Chas 😄⚽️
Willock looks 15 at most.
She just scored didn’t she? 🙂
Giroud is10 years older than half the team!
Difficult to choose between iWobi and Ox for MotM both very good
http://arsenalist.com/2016/10/25/arsenal-vs-reading-highlights-4/
“we’ve had some excellent posts recently with really naff titles”
Meow
Just got back only seen the highlights on Arsenalist.
Good result, no idea if the team played well.
Chas, your “noice” reminded me of Poida (Eric Bana playing Peter). I was sure he used to use the term noice, about 10yrs ago on Aussie tv comedy, but I find he preferred to use “sweet”.
Watch
and
Magnificent mullet. 🙂
At least ‘Thrashing the Thracians’ kept the riff-raff out.
Ooops, I’ve suddenly realised that isn’t meant to be the idea. 🙂
https://twitter.com/_AndyHa/status/790581891367829504
Rio’s not going to be happy.
Morning All,
If I write a quickie can someone come up with a snappy title?
@6:41 – priceless 🙂 🙂
the real Eric Bana
I didn’t realise we did not win this cup since 1992 or 93. interesting, but I suppose it has never been a priority, bigger fish to fry.
Love the 6.41 though I couldn’t understand much of it.
There is a New Post (with a dull Title)