Young Finalists - but what a waste of energy!

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Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
31 Jan	7:45 PM	LC	Tottenham Hotspur (H)	3	1	Win

For a competition is that is 4th choice for many teams, the Carling Cup really needs to get its format in order. Two semi-finals are too much for a start and then not fully taking into account the away goals in two-leg semi-finals is even worse.

Arsenal have been suffering poor first half performances for a few games so Wenger opted for a high-tempo first half in an attempt to decide the game early without having to use Fabregas or Rosicky.

Arsenal played a fantastic first half but inexperienced final touches did not allow a good result. At 1-1, the finals should have been given to Arsenal on away goals but Wenger ended up having to play Gilberto, Touré, Senderos and Adebayor for 120 mins; Fabregas, Rosicky for almost 90 mins.

Arsenal is plagued with injuries and key positions are barely covered so any more injuries or tiredness will be a nightmare in these congested periods.

All that said, the kids did really well. There are actually very few "kids" in the side. Walcott and Denilson are under 20 but the rest are over (if my memory serves me well).

They are however younger than any other side in the cup or the Premiership. Funnily enough, apart from Denilson, all the "kids" have played in the first team so if these are the kids then Arsenal are a team of kids – no news there.

Two players impressed me: Denilson and Aliadière. Denilson is an intelligent player that is stronger than Fabregas was at last year! Denilson is already very streetwise and I think he will give the incredible Fabregas a bit of a push. I think Denilson can already play in the first team if he plays central and if Gilberto is present.

Aliadière is strong (Premiership strong) and fast. It is very easy to miss how strong he is and I was almost surprised looking at him but then I realised that Aliadière has been in this country for longer than we have been seeing him.

He is a more seasoned player than we think and he is adapted to the pace and physical pressures of the English game. Aliadière also has a very good striker's instinct. He scored a great goal on the wrong side of Robinson. Andriy Schevchenko scores a lot of those types.

Scoring close to the keeper but where he didn't expect it. It is not such a surprise that Wenger wants to hang on to him. He may prove very useful now with all the injuries. And Aliadière has played the Carling Cups so much that he deserves to win it.

Gilberto showed again why he is missed. He breaks up a lot of play without committing fouls. He has a great tackling technique while staying up on his feet and great anticipation of where danger might be. Diaby should look and learn.

Adebayor is picking some of Henry's habits. It's no surprise since they are good friends. Adebayor picked a spot to score for the first time since he joined Arsenal as far as I can remember. Adebayor usually just hits towards goal.

This time, like Henry, he picked a spot and finished coolly. Yet he also shares some bad habits. Asking the crowd to sing – I don't like that. Players need to work to get the fans going – you can't just hang around and ask the crowd to sing.

Adebayor also sometimes holds the ball in the corner and tries to calm play when he should be exploiting space. And I don't like that silly dance with an off-field player when he or Henry score. By all means dance like Roger Milla by yourself or with your colleagues on the pitch, NOT with an off-field player.

It was interesting to see Wenger coaching on the pitch before extra time. I have never been in the Arsenal dressing room and couldn't imagine how Wenger is at half time. I have never been in Manchester United's dressing but have an image of what it would be like. It was interesting to see Wenger – quite animated he was too.

So it's Chelsea in the finals. Great methinks!

Will Arsenal play kids? But we are a team of kids so who else?

User Comments

Pete

Posted on 3 Feb, 2007 at 08:04 AM - Reply

Hoyte's 22, Toure's 25, Senderos's 21, Traore's 17, Giberto's 30, Diaby's 20, Denilson's 18, Walcott's 17, Adebayor's 21, Aliadiere's 23
Subs: Clichy's 21, Cesc's 19, Rosicky's 26
Average age of outfield players: 21.5
But then we're a team of kids with BRIGHT future. Other than Lehmann, Poom, Henry, Gilberto and Gallas, they're all young.

Ade and Henry should cut out that dance, they can have a full squad dance after the match if we win.

G-man

Posted on 2 Feb, 2007 at 10:23 PM - Reply

can every one please stop talking like they know every thing about football, yes denilson is good but to say his better then fab whats wrong with you, fab is proven him self in the prem, champions league and world cup and his only one year older then denilson, yeah Den is a good player and he looks like he will be very good, to say he is better then fab, man you dont know nothing about football or your just dumb,

Also i think when you celebrate you should do it with the whole team because football is a team game so stop it Henry and ade.

aabbs

Posted on 2 Feb, 2007 at 09:30 PM - Reply

That dance is annoying!!!!! they should stop it now. it cuts out the whole team who are on the pitch everytime he runs to henry.

FredIsDead Bombay

Posted on 2 Feb, 2007 at 08:23 PM - Reply

Yes Denilson was superb, and took some great cracks at goal. But Walcot is a big question mark so far. I have not seen anything exciting, or 'unexpected' in his movements on the pitch. It looks like he gets too excited when he has the ball, and sometime plays it too soon. To put it mildly, I am not convinced.

I strongly agree with you about that silly dance with an off-field player. It was Rosicky (I think) who put that pass on a platter for Adebayor to slip in and he should have been the first one Adebayor reached out for after scoring. What he did instead, smacked of wanting to remain on Henry's good side, rather than the fact that they might be great friends.

FredIsDead, Bombay

mcdonald(nigeria)

Posted on 2 Feb, 2007 at 05:16 PM - Reply

i really dont like the silly dance too, but over all, no matter what chelsea brings we'd knock 'em off.

Kevin G

Posted on 2 Feb, 2007 at 02:01 PM - Reply

I dont understand why everyone is getting upset about the dance and Ade's celebrations with Henry. There friends for **** sake. And why some people like yourself nit pick about his style of play is beyond me as well. AFC having been crying out for a poacher and we've got one you still complain.

Stuart

Posted on 2 Feb, 2007 at 01:58 PM - Reply

Poor facts mate - Diaby and Traore boht started and they are under 20 .....cesc as well is under 20 if your gonna be really pedantic!! On the celebration i like it though he should celebrate with the players on the pitch.

Come on you Gunners!!

Aussie Fan

Posted on 2 Feb, 2007 at 01:24 PM - Reply

Joel, i think you might have been half a sleep while writing this piece man..
The only player that stood out for me is Denilson. He is absolutely the goods, and if all comes and Cesc does Leave us we have a able replacement. I think Denilson is a lot neater, and can read the Game faster than Cesc did at that same stage. He is more Powerful, and can shoot Left and Right!! Is a cross between a Silky smoothBrazilian and a Hard Nose Englishman.Don't get me wrong, Cesc is still no.1 but what will happen next year when both a ready and willing to play? One will surely have to leave. By this time Next Year, Denilson will definitely be ready for 1st team action.
Personally Adebayor, i think he is a goose, scores important goals but how many shots tdoes he have at goal anyways? If that was a Exam he would fail with flying colours!! he scores one out of every 7 shots!! I mean you would never see VP, BEAST OR Aliadre spurn that many!! I THINK THE BOSS KEEPS HIM ON CAUSE HE DOES A GOOD JOB OF HOLDING THE BALL UP FOR THOSE CRUCIAL COUNTERS!! He is pretty clumsy for my liking, and what is with that dance?
Theo is starting to gain confidence, but the thing is, he is tring to be like TH14, MAN just kick the ball up and let him chase it down!!Rocsisky for me is the Man holding our fortunes and great run in tact, absolute gun.
Aliadre is always been a good player but Injuries and good form of others has kept him out!! Maybe he is building up a life career at Arsenal after all!!
Personally i think Wenger should ban tat silly dance on the sideline, its a insult to the players on the field who worked tirelessly for the good part of the fgame for that Goal and he celebrates it with a Non playing team member. That s like doing the hard yards at work, and your Boss taking credit for it!! One more sill y dance and i am happy to see him sit his butt on the bench. People on remember when we lose, but no one remembers the Defenderes when we win. Ade is lucky we have good defenders the amount of time he loses he damn ball well we would be counting all night!!

GTB

Posted on 2 Feb, 2007 at 12:44 PM - Reply

Traore 17 and Fabregas (still only 19) are both under 20

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