Skip to main content

Arsene Wenger Lauds Arsenal Squad Depth with Youth Team Players Set to Return for Carabao Cup

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger praised the quality of his squad depth after Arsenal's 5-2 win over Everton on Sunday after the manager made 10 changes to the side that won in the Europa League on Thursday. The French coach played a team mixed with youth and experience in Serbia against Red Star Belgrade and came away with a hard fought win, but reverted to the regular first-team XI for the trip to Goodison Park on Sunday.

The likes of Alexis Sanchez, Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Laurent Koscielny, Granit Xhaka and Alexandre Lacazette among others returned to the starting lineup while Petr Cech was the only constant between the Europa League team and the team on Sunday.

Arsenal put on a clinical show to dispatch Ronald Koeman's team and the likes of Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott and Alex Iwobi, who played against Red Star, were unused substitutes. Wenger remains unconcerned about the quality of his squad depth but warned that cohesion between the players on the pitch is most important as he rotates his team for different competitions.

"Look, we just played at Belgrade and won 1-0 with 10 completely different players. We have quality, but what is very important is our team play. After that, at the end of our team play, if we have players of Ozil's quality, you want always the best possible individual quality," Wenger said after the win, as quoted on Arsenal's official site.

"When you look, I had Giroud on the bench, I had Walcott on the bench, I had Wilshere on the bench, I had Iwobi on the bench. Offensively, it's top quality," the Frenchman added.

The trio of Giroud, Walcott and Iwobi are likely to return to the starting lineup for Arsenal's Carabao Cup clash against Norwich City on Tuesday (24 October), while Sunday's second-half substitutes Jack Wilshere and Francis Coquelin are also likely to replace Xhaka and Ramsey in the starting XI.

Wenger is certain to afford further chances to youth team stars Reiss Nelson, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Joe Willock, while the likes of Eddie Nkethia, Josh Dasilva and Marcus McGuane could feature on the bench as Wenger rests most of the senior stars. Similar to Thursday, Mohamed Elneny could start in central defence alongside Rob Holding, while Matt Macey could be given a chance in goal owing to David Ospina's injury.

Credit - IBTimes

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

NPFL Recap on Match-day 24- Plateau United Maintain Lead at the Top

Let us take a review of Nigerian Professional Football League for matchday- 24 as Plateau United maintained their five-point lead at the top of the Nigeria Professional Football League table, while there were no changes in the bottom four at the end of match-day 24 games on Sunday. Enugu Rangers 1-0 Akwa United Bright Silas' 11th-minute goal ensured Enugu Rangers secured maximum points against Akwa United, earning a first league win in four outings. Impressively, Rangers kept a clean-sheet for the first time in six games in a match which failed to produce too much goalmouth action. Plateau United 5-1 Gombe United  League leaders Plateau United secured a comprehensive home win against Gombe United, thanks partly to Peter Eneji's brace from the spot. The referee awarded penalties to either team in the opening eight minutes, converted by Eneji in the 6th minute and Mannir Ubale of Gombe United. Further goals from Elisha Golbe, Eneji, Kabiru Umar and Emeka Umeh conde

Real Madrid Left Back Marcelo Ruled Out for One Month while Toni Kroos will Miss Real Madrid's trip to Alaves

Real Madrid star Toni Kroos is set join Marcelo in the treatment room when Los Blancos visit Alaves on Saturday (23 September) after suffering a rib injury. The news is a fresh concern for Zinedine Zidane as Karim Benzema, Theo Hernandez, Jesus Vallejo and Mateo Kovacic are also ruled out for the visit to Mendizorroza due to various injuries. Kroos, 27, missed the last weekend's 3-1 victory over Real Sociedad due to a fitness problem. The Germany international returned to Zidane's starting line-up for Wednesday's 1-0 defeat to Real Betis and was able to complete the full 90 minutes. However, it looks like Kroos suffered a recurrence of the problem in that game after Real Madrid revealed on Friday morning that the midfielder skipped the final training session before Los Blancos' trip to Vitoria. Zidane himself later confirmed the blow in a press conference, adding that he expects the midfielder to recover in time for the crucial Champions League trip t

Naby Keita Expressed His Excitement to Join Liverpool Club Confirm Deal with RB Leipzig

Naby Keita insists he is excited to join Liverpool’s project next summer and will keep a close eye on the developments at Anfield this season. The Reds have been desperate to sign the Guinea international and agreed a deal with RB Leipzig to sign the midfielder on July 1, 2018 following the conclusion of the current campaign. Keita, who scored eight goals in 31 Bundeliga games last term to help Leipzig finish second, insists he is delighted to join the Premier League club. Speaking to Liverpool’s official website, the 22-year-old said: ‘I am delighted that an agreement has been reached which will allow me to join Liverpool Football Club next summer, when I will become part of a project that excites me greatly. ‘My commitment to RBL remains absolute for the remainder of my time at the club. I have given my all every time I have worn the shirt – that will be the case until the final whistle, in my final appearance. ‘Having my future resolved means I can now focus on he