Carling Cup Match Analysis: Arsenal vs. Wigan Athletic – Arsenal stroll into semis (Part 1)
Wigan travelled to the Emirates to take on Arsenal in both the team’s scheduled quarter finals encounter in the Carling Cup. Both Arsenal and Wigan had a poor run of form over the last couple of weeks prior to the week; however Arsenal
managed to pick up one win in the last two games that they played, while Wigan had lost both of their previous matches in the league prior to the game.
That being the case, the experts were tipping Arsenal to be the firm favourites to end the match on top at the end of the ninety minutes. However things were not quite going Arsenal’s way. Prior to the match Carlos Vela’s agent, who also
happens to be his brother came to the press to state that if Vela was not given an opportunity to play in the game, then he would know almost for certain that his future did not belong with Arsenal and that he would have to look elsewhere.
Those statements seemed to take a toll on Wenger who changed his initial line-up completely minutes before kick-off. The manager went from his signature 4-3-3 to adopt a better known 4-4-2 formation and he ended up including Vela in the
final line-up after not mentioning his name in the initial squad selection.
In other bad news for Arsenal, the team’s captain Cesc Fabregas and Sebastian Squillaci were both out after picking up injuries in the recent weeks prior to the game. On the other hand Emmanuel Eboue was deemed fit to play the game and
was as a result made part of the starting line up.
Wigan were also without Tom Cleverley the midfielder that was brought in on loan from Manchester United and Gary Caldwell was also out of the match due to a thigh problem that he was suffering.
The starting line ups were as follows: Arsenal: Szczesny, Eboue, Koscielny, Djourou, Gibbs, Denilson, Wilshere, Walcott, Bendtner, Van Persie (c) and Vela.
Wigan: Al Habsi; Gohouri, Alcaraz, S. Caldwell, Figueroa; McArthur, Thomas; Stam, Watson, Moses and Boselli.
While the benches for both the teams were as follows: Arsenal: James Shea, Nasri, Sagna, Arshavin, Eastmond, Emmanuel-Thomas, and Nordtveit.
Wigan: Pollitt, Di Santo, N'Zogbia, Gomez, Diame, McManaman and Mustoe.
Despite the home fans outnumbering the away fans both parties were equally as welcoming to both the teams coming on the pitch. After the fans blasting their horns and cheering both the teams out of the tunnel, the match finally got underway
is freezing temperatures at the Emirates Stadium after the referee’s whistle.
(Continued in Part 2)
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