Tottenham preview

It's the Carling Cup tonight. Traditionally that fact would see us treated to the youngsters bubbling away under the surface of the first team cream. However, it's our third foray (in this competition) into the badlands of north London in the last three and a half years and it seems that Arsène is keen to avoid a repeat of the drubbing we were handed when they knocked out us out of the competition in 2008 and sold a few dvds in the process.

As Arsène was hit with, and has since, "admitted a charge of using insulting and/or abusive language and behaviour amounting to improper conduct." he will be sitting tonight's match out. And you've got to hand it to the brains at Soho Square, or wherever it is they live now. You can imagine them all sitting around, with cigars stuffed into their well fed gobs, saying to themselves,

"Aren't we clever? We've nailed Mr Wenger on a disciplinary charge and that's £8,000 we get off him"

No, you're not clever, not at all. Charging managers for displaying emotion at matches, it's easy to do that. But what about safeguarding the players that play the game? What about the idiots like Paul Robinson who will keep kicking and fouling and stamping until the FA actually gets off its collective backside and makes an example of them? It wouldn't have taken much to look at that Robinson tackle and decide that tackles like that have no place in the game. Now, I know that this has nothing to do with Arsène pushing Martin Atkinson, but that's all he did. Martin Atkinson will be able to referee at the weekend. Will Abou Diaby be able to play? It's time the FA sorted their priorities out.

So, no Arsène this evening, but it seems as though, the inclusion of Fabianski aside, he will be leaving nothing to chance. According to the Young Guns blog, only Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Craig Eastmond and Henri Lansbury will be added to the first team squad from the reserves. Although the same blog reports that Benik Afobe and Chuks Aneke are also waiting in "Cat 3" on stand by for tonight's game. It's an intriguer, this one. Two and a half years ago we took a mish mash of players up the Seven Sisters and our "team" was duly pulverised by a super fired up Tottenham first team. Allied to a similar team and result at Manchester United in the FA Cup, that result precipitated a spectacular collapse in the fortunes of a team that was, I believe, top of the table at the time. As I noted in the first paragraph, I don't think Arsène wants any part of a repeat. On the other hand, Harry "I'm not a f@cking wheeler dealer" Redknapp seems to have realised that life in the Champions League means that you cut your cloth according to your extended list of priorities and looks set to field a much weaker side than he might have ordinarily. Though, and I know I'm not the first to say it, I'll believe that one when I see it.

So, I think we'll get a strong back four of Eboue, Djourou, Squillaci and Gibbs. In midfield, Eastmond, Lansbury and Denilson, whilst I reckon the forward line will be Emmanuel-Thomas, Vela and Rosicky. Or some similar permutation of players. With the injuries piling up already, it's fair to say that Arsène doesn't have too much room to manouevre in. But I think he'll allow himself a couple of "nuclear" options on the bench. None of whom will be Cesc Fabregas, unfortunately. He tweeted yesterday that there was no damage to the hamstring muscle, but he is still set for a minimum absence of two weeks. Which is unfortunate in the extreme as it all but rules him out of our visit to Stamford Bridge next Sunday. A hard task just got harder.

Arsène has bigged up the likes of Vela, citing his improvement from last season, Emmanuel-Thomas, talking about his class and again reiterated his belief that Fabianski will go on to be a great goalkeeper. It was in this competition at the Lane in 2008 that red flags were raised high and clear regarding Lukasz's competency. It would be rather poetic- and rather brilliant- if the first stage of his redemption began tonight and we, once again, knock "Tottenham out the cup". As our official site has already pointed out, the legend of modern Arsenal was formed on such an event in slightly improbable circumstances twenty three years ago.

Enjoy the game, wherever you are and come on you reds!

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