EFL Cup | Arsenal vs Reading | 25th of October at 19:45 (GMT)

[albakos]

Expecting Arsène to rotate a bit.

Martinez
Debuchy (Bellerin) - Holding - Gabriel - Gibbs
ElNeny - Maitland Niles
Chamberlain - Jeff - Iwobi
Perez​

 

[ArtetaCognition]

Is Zelalem fit for this? If so I'd play the team below. It'll be a welcome addition to see a younger team and forget about today for a while.. I always love this competition simply because it gives us a chance to see our younger players in a tougher environment - I miss the days where our reserves could almost win the trophy themselves. Hopefully this year we can put in a good campaign.

Martinez
Jenkinson - Gabriel - Holding - Gibbs
Zelalem - Coq
AMN - Jeff - Ox
Perez

 

[MutableEarth]

Debuchy hasn't been seen at all, and Jenkinson has had a solid hour under his belt, so I reckon Jenks might get the nod. The darkhorse option is the regular U23s right back Chiori Johnson. He's one of those players I never see have a bad game - he's quick, good one-on-one and very steady.

I'd kill for a Maitland-Niles-Zelalem pivot personally, but that won't happen. I just hope Maitland-Niles doesn't get put at right back again - not that he isn't good there, but he's miles better at CM and should be given that opportunity there.

We might also see Mavididi get some minutes, given that Giroud is unlikely to be ready, and Lucas is the only other striker.

 

[Rocky]

Debuchy hasn't been seen at all, and Jenkinson has had a solid hour under his belt, so I reckon Jenks might get the nod. The darkhorse option is the regular U23s right back Chiori Johnson. He's one of those players I never see have a bad game - he's quick, good one-on-one and very steady.

I'd kill for a Maitland-Niles-Zelalem pivot personally, but that won't happen. I just hope Maitland-Niles doesn't get put at right back again - not that he isn't good there, but he's miles better at CM and should be given that opportunity there.

We might also see Mavididi get some minutes, given that Giroud is unlikely to be ready, and Lucas is the only other striker.

Is Akpom injured?

 

[Linson]

Ospina
Debuchy Gabriel Holding Gibbs
El-Neny Maitland-Niles
Oxlade-Chamberlain Zelalem Perez
Giroud​

Why waste time with this one? We lose nothing by playing the above players, who are all closest to first XI, and keeping them match fit.

 

[Linson]

I'd kill for a Maitland-Niles-Zelalem pivot personally, but that won't happen. I just hope Maitland-Niles doesn't get put at right back again - not that he isn't good there, but he's miles better at CM and should be given that opportunity there.

We might also see Mavididi get some minutes

Let's hold back on the murder for the moment...

Also, who's Mavididi?

 

[Rocky]

Ospina
Debuchy Gabriel Holding Gibbs
El-Neny Maitland-Niles
Oxlade-Chamberlain Zelalem Perez
Giroud​

Why waste time with this one? We lose nothing by playing the above players, who are all closest to first XI, and keeping them match fit.

Zelalem ahead of Jeff?

 

[MutableEarth]

Is Akpom injured?

Yes. Back injury - not known when he will be back.

Let's hold back on the murder for the moment...

Also, who's Mavididi?

Stephy Mavididi is the U23s regular striker. He's a Hale End product - he's not the tallest (5'11 I think), but he's very powerful and decent technically. He has good link-up play, unselfish movement and has a decent finish with both feet. Tends to pick up goals at important times.

Not quite heralded as much as our other talents, but since he stepped up to U21/23 level, he's been a regular scorer, even more clinical than Donyell Malen, who is seen as a bigger talent.

 

[MutableEarth]

Yes. Back injury - not known when he will be back.



Stephy Mavididi is the U23s regular striker. He's a Hale End product - he's not the tallest (5'11 I think), but he's very powerful and decent technically. He has good link-up play, unselfish movement and has a decent finish with both feet. Tends to pick up goals at important times.

Not quite heralded as much as our other talents, but since he stepped up to U21/23 level, he's been a regular scorer, even more clinical than Donyell Malen, who is seen as a bigger talent.

Here's a comp of Mavididi:

 

[carlito'sway]

For Xhaka's red card, if the theories of "Wenger wanted to bring Coquelin back uncontested/teach Xhaka a lesson" are true, it definitely was a bad move.

It's possible (and probable) though that he knows the FA won't back down because it technically is the right call, so we're just rather unlucky. We may need to call upon a youngster, which is worrying but also exciting.

This conspiracy theory is really in the tin foil hat category.

 

[RUS arsenal]

Here's a comp of Mavididi:

I like this kid, seems to have an eye for goal.

 

[Ewarwoowar]

Pas complètement, je pense qu'il va se retrouver sur le banc.

oui, je le pense aussi, je crois perez up top.

 

[Ewarwoowar]

This conspiracy theory is really in the tin foil hat category.

Time to bust out them hats, what with winter coming.

 

[Ewarwoowar]

Expecting Arsène to rotate a bit.

Martinez
Debuchy (Bellerin) - Holding - Gabriel - Gibbs
ElNeny - Maitland Niles
Chamberlain - Jeff - Iwobi
Perez​

^This,, Iwobi making way for Giroud second half, shifting Perez out wide. Tho' there maybe a chance Arsène chooses Coq Elneny again in an attempt to get them to Gel before Sunderland if no chance of Caz or Ramsey returning for that game. If this is the case, Niles could do right back again.

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

Martinez
Jenkinson Gabi Holding Gibbs
Jeff Xhaka Elneny Ox
Giroud Lucas

 

[Taylor Gang Gunners]

Martinez
Jenkinson Gabi Holding Gibbs
Jeff Xhaka Elneny Ox
Giroud Lucas

 

[carlito'sway]

Expecting Arsène to rotate a bit.

Martinez
Debuchy (Bellerin) - Holding - Gabriel - Gibbs
ElNeny - Maitland Niles
Chamberlain - Jeff - Iwobi
Perez​

That is more than a bit.... closer to a full rotation.

 

[Mike Vinna]

People apparently love Maitland-Niles. I'd rather see Zelalem in central midfield myself.

Ospina

Jenkinson Holding Gabriel Gibbs

Elneny Zelalem

Chamberlain Adelaide Iwobi

Perez
​

An alternative could be Perez on the left with Giroud up front if fully fit.

 

[BobP]

https://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com/...start-for-arsenal-against-reading-in-efl-cup/

AMN starting.

 

[Penn_]

Perez is surely nailed on to start at CF? Not sure why we would go with Giroud.