Sunday, January 30, 2011

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30-01-2011 13:00 Arsenal - Huddersfield Town

Full Steam Ahead For Gunners

Arsenal will be looking to back up their place in the League Cup final with a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Huddersfield are the visitors on Sunday and Arsene Wenger will be hoping to continue his record of never being beaten by lower league opposition during his time in charge of the Gunners.

But as the north London club continue to fight for a trophy on four fronts this year it is likely the French boss will rotate his squad.

With important games against Everton in the Premier League, the small matter of two matches with Spanish giants Barcelona and a cup final against Birmingham all looming, Wenger has admitted his squad will be stretched.

But he insists his side can cope, claiming this is the best squad he has known since he started the job.

He said: "The squad will be stretched but I have 25 players of the same quality - I have never had a squad of this equal strength in my life.

"I want to take advantage of it and go for every single competition."

No Fear

Huddersfield visit the Emirates in decent form.

They currentyly lie third in League One and overcame Dover in the last round to set up the clash with Arsenal.

Manager Lee Clark, who is no stranger to the big occasion, having played 260 games for Newcastle, is hoping his side do not freeze on the day, and insists they can pull off a shock result if they play without fear.

He told the club's official website: "It's right up there as one of the biggest and best occasions for the football club for a long time.

"It's a great opportunity for the players and for everybody involved with the club because we get to enjoy the day and experience playing at one of the best stadiums in world football and against some of the best individuals and teams around, as they have shown on many occasions."

"I think they are an outstanding side - the pace and the tempo they play at and the way they pass the ball so quickly and accurately to each other is unbelievable.

"Despite this we have to go there with a game plan and try to stick to it to the best of our ability. If we do, you never know. The Cup is about shocks and this would be a huge one because as I have said we are massive underdogs. All we can do is focus on our own performance."

TEAM NEWS

Arsenal

Sebastien Squillaci and Abou Diaby will return to Arsene Wenger's squad and could start as the manager looks to freshen up his team.

Manuel Almunia (elbow) and Tomas Rosicky (sickness) could also return to the squad as the Gunners continue to fight on four fronts for silverware.

Bacary Sagna could feature for the Gunners after suffering concussion in the 3-0 win over Ipswich. If the full-back does not make it he should be ready for the Premier Leaue clash against Everton on Tuesday.

Carlos Vela will be not available for selection after signing for West Bromwich Albion on loan until the end of the season.

Otherwise Arsene Wenger has no new injury concerns.

Possible line-up: Szczesny; Eboue, Squillaci, Koscielny, Gibbs; Song, Denilson, Rosicky; Nasri, Chamakh, Walcott.


Huddersfield

Huddersfield will take on Arsenal without leading goalscorer Jordan Rhodes, who has been ruled out for eight weeks after damaging ankle ligaments in last week’s goalless home draw with Colchester.

Lee Clark could start with Lee Novak, who replaced Rhodes, who has scored 16 goals this season, on Saturday, alongside Alan Lee in the FA Cup fourth-round clash at the Emirates.

Tamas Kadar, the on-loan Newcastle defender, is also unavailable for selection after missing Town's last two games due to a hamstring injury.

Long-term absentees Gary Naysmith (toe), Leigh Franks (hamstring) and midfielder Damien Johnson (knee ligaments) are still sidelined.
Benik Afobe, recently signed on loan from Arsenal, is not available for selection after his parent club refused to allow him to play in the tie.

Possible line-up: Bennett; Peltier, Clarke, McCombe, Kilbane; Hunt, Gudjonsson, Arfield, Pilkington; Novak, Lee.

Prediction
Huddersfield will give it their all but it seems unlikely their endeavour will be enough to overcome Arsenal's class.

Arsenal 2-0 Huddersfield Town