Arsene Wenger however, did concede that he did want to give the Arsenal fans something to celebrate over the course of the season.
“We are not completely happy with that [lack of silverware] and we want to make our supporters as happy as we can. The major trophies are the Champions League and the Premier League but if we can win this competition then we will take it.”
These words perhaps suggest that a man once leading the Arsenal pack for an unbeaten season has now finally realised that the League is far more competitive than what it used to be in his early reign. Wenger’s line up this year featuring a balanced mix of
youth and experience also stresses on the importance of this cup for the Frenchman.
There were however, plenty of positives to draw out in Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Wigan for the manager. Arsenal ace striker, Robin van Persie made his first start since August as the World Cup finalist recovered from an ankle injury. The striking department
also received another boost in the form of Nicklas Bendtner, also out since the start of the season, scoring the 2nd goal and giving the Arsenal manager a pleasant headache for selection in future games.
Wenger further commended the contribution of the new Arsenal number 10 as he believed that the Dutchman showed class on the night. Stressing upon his fitness, the Frenchman added that despite being out for a long time, Robin van Persie could easily play
70 minutes and assuming that he could stay fit, he was only going to get stronger with every game.
Morale has been generally high this term. Not only the manager, but also his players are certain that the North London side’s prospects in the Carling Cup looked good. Arsenal’s Brazilian midfielder, Denilson, believed that it could act as catalyst for them
to move ahead and challenge for further trophies this season. He added that it was added comfort seeing the likes of Manchester United out of the tournament which gave them a better chance to go on and win the Cup. However, the youngster warned against potential
complacency and urged the team to focus on every coming game from then onwards.
Bearing in mind Arsenal’s position in other tournaments, they were still in contention in all of them and have a golden opportunity to change their prevailing trophy-less fate if they are able to take one game at a time and focus collectively towards a single
target.
Denilson, perhaps, was a touch pumped up owing to the fact that not only has he never won any kind of honours with the Gunners since making his move from Sau Paulo in 2006, but also the owing to the memory of the 2007 Carling Cup final in which he started.
The game at the Wembley season against the Gunner’s London rivals Chelsea saw the Blues nicking the game 2-1 after Arsenal scored first through Theo Walcott.
“I was 18 when we lost that final to Chelsea. It hurt and we want to win a trophy now. All the players are together and focused on this, and this season we want to do it.”
While the Gunners have been bashed for being unable to back their performances through silverware over the course of the past 5 years, the resultant lack of trophies has also ignited in the unit, a sense of collective ambition – A hunger to prove themselves,
that has arguably been the difference from the boys that were beaten a couple of years ago from the men that stand on the crossroads of making history this term.
The North Londoners travel to Portman Road for the first leg on either the 11
or 12 of January while the return leg sees them at the Emirates 2 weeks later. Just like always, the final shall be at the neutral Wembley Stadium on 27 February.
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