Good morning, everyone!

Tonight is a pivotal moment for our team as we face Newcastle in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final. While many may regard this competition as the least important, reaching this stage with a final on the horizon demands our full attention and commitment. I believe that, fitness and player availability allowing, Mikel Arteta will likely field a stronger lineup compared to our upcoming FA Cup clash against Manchester United on Sunday. This match presents a unique opportunity to progress, and it is crucial that we approach it with the seriousness it deserves.

However, the current injury situation poses a significant challenge for the manager. Arteta has confirmed that Ethan Nwaneri will be sidelined for a few weeks due to a muscular injury sustained during the match against Brighton. Additionally, several players, including Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, and Gabriel Martinelli, are grappling with illness, further complicating our options for the match. The lack of depth in our squad makes it imperative to assess who can contribute effectively in this crucial game.

Even if Havertz is fit enough to make the squad, expecting him to be at his peak performance level seems unrealistic. There are also concerns regarding Odegaard’s condition, as he appeared to be struggling during his appearance against Brighton. Nevertheless, we hope that he can muster enough strength to lead the team. Provided there are no further injuries, the starting lineup could potentially include: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, LB*, Partey*, Rice, Odegaard, Trossard, Jesus, and Martinelli.

I’ve marked the left-back position with an asterisk since after two consecutive games, Arteta might opt for caution with Riccardo Calafiori, who is just returning from injury. He could consider starting Myles Lewis-Skelly or Oleksandr Zinchenko if he feels a change is necessary, though I personally lean towards the former. Additionally, we must consider how much we can rely on Partey after his extensive minutes this season, including a full 90 minutes at right-back on Saturday. If needed, it would be wise to give him some rest to manage his fitness effectively.

Beyond these considerations, our options are quite limited due to the ongoing injury crisis. Arteta mentioned that he had to bring in several young players to fill the training squad, highlighting the severity of our situation. While he may privately feel frustration over the absences, he maintains a positive front in public settings. In a recent press conference, he stated:

It’s a good learning process, not only tactically but also in preparation and training with very few players. Today we had seven or eight players with us just to fill the squad, which isn’t normal. It’s a strange way to learn, but I’ll take it. I cannot change it, so let’s focus on what we can learn from this to become better.

Turning our attention to tonight’s opponents, there is some intriguing history that could add spice to this encounter. Arteta downplayed the notion of a rivalry with Newcastle, yet the intensity of these matches often leads to heightened emotions and incidents on the pitch. In the past, games at St James’ Park have tended to carry more tension, and with Newcastle desperate for a trophy after a 70-year wait, they will likely be motivated to capitalize on Arsenal’s current struggles, especially given our congested fixture schedule. Their physical playing style has also been a factor, often resulting in challenges that may go unpunished, which we need to be cautious of.

We hope the home crowd can provide a significant boost tonight. It’s essential for fans to rally behind the team and communicate with the referee when Newcastle inevitably pushes the limits. Arteta expressed his anticipation:

We’re very excited to play the game in front of our crowd. A semi-final is a chance to secure our place in the final, and that journey begins with these two legs. We know they will be two challenging matches against a highly competitive team, but we are eager and need a vibrant atmosphere in our stadium.

The decision to hold the semi-final over two legs seems excessive at this stage; a single match would suffice. Regardless, we aim for a strong result tonight as we prepare for the return leg next month. Even if things don’t go as planned, we’ll have another chance to rectify any mistakes. With two significant cup matches this week, securing a win tonight would set a positive tone before we shift our focus to the FA Cup on Sunday. Here’s hoping for a favorable outcome!

For now, I’ll wrap up my thoughts here. Don’t forget to check out our preview podcast available on Patreon. Join us later for live blog updates, including the match report, goal highlights, player reactions, ratings, and much more on Arseblog News.

See you soon!