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PREVIEW: Arsenal v Southampton, Team News, Line-Up + Prediction

By on September 23, 2014

Arsenal are back in cup action tonight as we take on Southampton at the Emirates in the 3rd round of the Capital One Cup.

We got a huge monkey off our back last season after ending our much talked about trophy drought with a dramatic victory over Hull City at Wembley back in May.

While there could now be little less pressure on us to do well in the domestic cups now, I hope the players take that winning feeling and really try to add more trophies to our collection.

Obviously the League Cup is the least important competition we’re competing in, but it does give Arsene Wenger a great chance to give the fringe players a chance and give some youngsters a taste of first team football.

We warmed up for the game with an impressive 3-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday and it was good to see the boys getting back to winning ways after some disappointing results, so let’s hope we can build on that victory tonight.

Team News

Arsene has confirmed he’ll be making a number of changes to his starting eleven for the game with several key players set to be handed well earned rests.

David Ospina is expected to start in goal while Hector Bellerin, Isaac Hayden and Calum Chambers should start in defence. Ideally we’d rest Chambers as he’s now going to be our first choice right-back with Debuchy out, but we have few alternatives at centre-back.

Francis Coquelin is also in-line to be handed a rare start with Kieran Gibbs rested and Nacho Monreal out with a back injury.

Wenger has revealed that Abou Diaby will play and it will be great to have him back in the first team fold. Hopefully he can come through the game unscathed.

Theo Walcott, Serge Gnabry and Olivier Giroud are of course still unavailable, but Chuba Akpom and Semi Ajayi are in the squad.

Preferred Line-Up

This team looks to have a good balance of youth and experience. It’s clearly a young back four but we all know we have little depth in that area so Arsene has no option but to give the likes of Bellerin and Hayden a chance.

Lukas Podolski, Mathieu Flamini and Tomas Rosicky should add some experience to the team, while it will be interesting to see if Arsene gives Joel Campbell a chance in attack. You’ve really got to worry for the lad if he doesn’t get a start tonight.

Many are suggesting that Alexis Sanchez will start up front but with huge games against Tottenham, Galatasaray and Chelsea coming up next, I’d much prefer to see him rested and give Akpom a run out.

Prediction

Much depends on the team Arsene selects but if he goes with a side similar to the one above, then we should still have a good chance of progressing. Southampton are going to be tough and I can see them pushing us all the way, but I’m going to back the boys to edge it. Arsenal 2-1 Southampton.

COYG!!!

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