Monday, November 28, 2011

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29.11. (Tue) 21:00 Arsenal - Manchester City


PROBABLE LINEUPS

ARSENAL

Fabianski
Djourou, Squillaci, Miquel, Yennaris
Coquelin, Benayoun, Rosicky
Oxlade-Chamberlain, Park, Arshavin
MANCHESTER CITY

Pantilimon
Zabaleta, Kolo Toure, Savic, Kolarov
De Jong, Razak, Yaya Toure
Johnson, Dzeko, Nasri
Both managers will have tough choices to make after disappointing results at the weekend. Though City can claim to have picked up a difficult point away at Anfield, it is still a case of two dropped points, whereas Arsenal know that is the case with their home draw against Fulham.

Arsene Wenger is likely to revert to his normal policy where the League Cup is concerned and select the cream of the academy crop, with players such as Francis Coquelin and Ignasi Miquel likely to feature.

For Roberto Mancini, it will probably be a more straightforward task of rotation to ensure all of his players are ready for if and when they are needed in the title run, though there may be a few more familiar faces than in the hosts' squad.
DID YOU KNOW?
  • Manchester City have taken an average of 2.66 points per game against opponents in the top half of the Premier League table compared to Arsenal's 1.16.
  • Both sides have won the competition twice, with Manchester City's two wins coming in 1970 and 1976 and Arsenal's triumphs in 1987 and 1993.
  • The closest either side has come to winning since then was in last year's final where Arsenal were beaten by a late Obafemi Martins strike for Birmingham to take a 2-1 victory.
  • Arsenal have been runners up in the competition on five occasions, whereas City have been beaten in the final once.
Prediction
This game will be Manchester City's for the taking. That's not to say that Arsenal will be humiliated, but City will edge it.
With the quality City have in depth, they can field a second string team that would quite easily stay in the Premier League. Arsenal, however will mostly be fielding young players.
While those players do not tend to show any fear, they are likely to get found out against players of the calibre of Johnson or midfielders such as Nigel de Jong.
Editor's Prediction
Arsenal 1-2 Man City