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By ALICIA GAWORSKA ‘Five years without winning a major trophy…’ a phase every Arsenal supporter is sick and tired of hearing and one which the opposition and media are keen to quote at every opportunity. The attitude with which AW has approached the Carling Cup this year suggests he’s also sick of hearing it. Ipswich await in the semis and a possible final against West Ham or Brum after that.
A few years ago we were satisfied with letting the youngsters have a run around to let the first team rest and get on with winning the league. But with the reality of winning the league slimmer than ever, and with Champion’s League qualification becoming a target not an assumption, winning any trophy would be nice.
AW hasn’t just let his team choices suggest that this season the Carling Cup is a serious target. In September the signs couldn’t have been clearer, ‘I am taking this competition seriously,’ he announced. The CC team selections shows he’s not just altered his approach to the forth-choice trophy, but smashed it to pieces. Since the 04-05 season, the average number of regular first team players in a Carling Cup starting XI was 3 (or 2.9 to be precise), this season it’s averaged at 10. But as well as dampening the trophy-less taunts there are a few other reasons why this season has afforded Arsene with a different approach.
Currently Arsene has a plethora of players who are chomping at the bit to get a game. Maybe less so in our injury ridden, exposed defence but in midfield and upfront the likes of Walcott, Bentner, Rosisky and Vela are all spending more time being quoted about their desire to play and ‘prove what I’ve got,’ than facing Premier league opposition. Keeping some of the larger egos happy and giving players returning from injury (I’m looking at you RVP) has seen the true youngsters gain first team football elsewhere; Ramsey and Lansbury loaned out to Nottingham Forest and Norwich City respectively at the end of November.
As well as keeping a large squad content AW may well have been looking at recent stats when he pondered his CC strategy. Each season from 2005-2006, excluding the fluke year that Spurs wangled their way to victory, the winner of the Carling Cup has either won the Premiership or finished as runner up.
Ok, both Manchester United and Chelsea selected weakened teams throughout their winning campaigns, but they were less pre-pubescent youngsters, more second string experienced players. Over the last few seasons we’ve been lacking in this department but with the likes of Walcott, Denilson and Eboue, we don’t lack match experience in the players who aren’t fist choice.
The stats point to winning being a habit. Ipswich awaits in the semi finals. It hardly has you trembling at the thought, does it? Only three more matches till a trophy without facing fearful opposition. I hope Arsene goes for it – crushes the opposition and lets Fabregas lift a trophy for the Gunners. Mickey Mouse cup? If winning the CC has the positive effect on the team that it seems to have done for Manchester United and Chelsea – it’s no child’s play. It’s serious business.
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