The Mickey Mouse Cup!

Ex-Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho called it the Mickey Mouse Cup, and it is here yet again. He believed that it was not something to fight for and it should be taken in a light manner in the name of promotion of THE BEAUTIFUL GAME. But there was a big gulf between his deeds and words, as we all know that by now. Arsenal is the only club who seriously considers it the Mickey Mouse Cup and leaves the kids to play with it. An 11gunners curtain raiser of the Mickey thingy..

Wenger believes and firmly so, that Carling Cup is an opportunity for youngsters to step up and show their true self. He is very particular about giving youngsters a go in this tournament even if it is at the penultimate stage of the competition. I still remember that night when Arsenal kids were playing against Chelsea men. They have given Chelsea a run for their money on 2 occasions in near past in Carling Cup and it is the experience which has got Chelsea through each time, not a superior technique as Chelsea fans might like to say. Drogba drilled in goals like a Butcher and did celebrate thanksgiving at the expense of Arsenal youngsters. I hope that Chelsea managers can sleep with the sin they committed against The Beautiful Game itself by not allowing their youngster a chance to prove their mettle. They will pay for it and the FIFA sanction against any player purchase for 2 windows in a row will take care of that.

Arsenal youngsters won a double last season and this competition will provide them a n opportunity to showcase the reason behind their ‘DOUBLE’ triumph last season. The men to watch in this campaign are

Jack Packs A Punch!

Jack Wilshere: The spotlight will certainly be on this gem from N5. He did show his caliber in The Emirates Cup by winning 2 continuous MOM awards. He captured the imagination of whole of England and people pressed for his inclusion in World Cup campaign in South Africa.Wenger even compared him to Rooney at his age. But Wenger has decided to tread carefully with him. He wants to ease him to the pressure cooker scenario. Wenger said

“I believe last year he paid a little bit of a price physically for a very demanding start,” said Wenger. “This year we feel that he is strong, more mature, and I’m sure that he will show that.

“It’s difficult to treat them [young English players] completely the same because you want to speed up a little bit their progress, but physically I will still treat him like anybody else because most people once they get to 19 years of age – 19 or 20 without big injures – they are over-used. A big injury can always happen because you get over-use of the players.”

“You cannot predict that too much, because for a player like Aaron Ramsey you know what can happen because he’s now physically ready,” said Wenger.

“I believe you do not know what will happen throughout the season so for Jack the most objective target is to improve. There are some areas where he can improve and that is most important that you work on everything.”

I might be a bit presumptuous but I believe that when Fabregas finally leaves after 4-5 years for his home land Barca, Wilshere will be the one who will step in to provide a soul to Arsenal mid field.

A 'Vela' Good Fella!

Carlos Vela: This Mexican kid is special and he has already had a taste of 1s team football in Spain. This kid is just waiting to explode Big Time. He is that time bomb which is ticking to explode when the right time comes. This tournament might provide that triggering device needed for him to explode.

Hey Ram!

Aaron Ramsey: This guy is special. He is the only guy for whom Wenger did not shy from being a party in a bidding war. And he succeeded for a change. Wenger has never been comfortable when drawn to a bidding war even for a proven performer like Xabi Alonso. We beat the Red Devils to bag him and that too in a melodramatic way. Man U had declared that they had secured his signatures on the dotted lines but Wenger pulled a rabbit out of his hat and Man U had egg all over their place. He took him away from them right under their nose and he was intelligent enough to come to Arsenal than go to United and polish Giggs & Co.’s shoes for ages. Kudos to him as well. He came into limelight in the earlier edition of this tournament.

He made his name when he helped Cardiff City in a series of Giant Killing that season and ended up at Arsenal. He spent 1 year picking up valuable first-team experience and honing his raw skills on the training pitches at London Colney. He did show his true potential in this tournament last year as well with Arsenal and this season might be the one when he comes off age. He believes that we can win this tournament, come what may. He said that

“To come here from Cardiff was a big step up in terms of everything,” he told Arsenal.com. “I had to get used to everything, but I’m settled now and I feel like one of the lads. I’m not a kid in the dressing room anymore, I really feel part of it.

“My awareness is better and my touch has improved, one and two touch. I maybe don’t give the ball away as much as I used to, but all of that comes with experience and hopefully I can continue improving and start playing League games as well.

“I want to play every game and put pressure on the manager. I don’t just want to be the guy who starts in the Carling Cup. I’m still only 18, but I’m like every other player – I want to start every game and do well for Arsenal.”

“No matter who it is against or who is in the team for us, we play the same way in every game and our mentality is always the same,” he said. “We prepare in the right way and treat every game the same.

“Of course it’s a competition we can win, even if the boss fields a young team. We can win any competition. No matter what the side is, we have the same mentality to win every game and to win every competition if we can.”

Burnley ended our run last season but this season might just be the final hurdle before he explodes in a big way.

A Cultured Left Foot!

Armand Traore: He spent last season on loan at Portsmouth and did make 28 appearances with them. Wenger has been highly impressed by him after his return and so much so that he is ready to use him at he left midfield position even though left back is his preferred position. If he does force his way through at this position then he sure is a special talent as we all know that to do so he will have to play better that Clichy and Gibbs. In this case he might even become the best left back on planet. Wenger had nothing but words of appreciation for him. He said that

“He can be a big surprise because he has improved a lot,” claimed Wenger. “Technically, tactically, and mentally he is a lot more mature.”

“He does not get his chance at the moment because he’s a left-back,” said the manager. “We have Clichy, we have Gibbs, and we have Traore, so it’s very difficult for him to get a chance.

“But I use him as well now in left-midfield because he has huge power and pace, a good cross, and he’s a finisher as well.”

He might well turn out to be that ‘UTILITY PLAYER’ we desperately need. May God be with him. Amen

Second Coming?

Philippe Senderos: He is not a new player and it was this tournament which brought him to light some years ago. It is true that Wenger was looking to sell him before the start of the season. But now when he has decided to stay or forced to stay, he has the opportunity to reignite that love he had with Arsenal. It was he who helped us through a series of clean sheets in the Champions League when we reached the finals to be played at Paris. He has come back from Milan which is an academy of defensive football and he sure is a changed player now after spending quality time with legends like Nesta, Maldini & Co. This might well be his second chance to stake a place in this jubilant Arsenal side. Very few people get a second chance and he is one of them. Wenger has words of encouragement for him. He said that

“I don’t believe he is starting his career with us again because we know how good he is but it is a new start let’s say,” remarked Wenger.

“We have already seen his quality and he is still very young for a centre back. He’s 24 years-old and he has the future in front of him. The best 10 years are now coming for him.

“Philippe is an intelligent boy with a very good attitude and you don’t ever question that.

“His position at the moment is that we have four centre backs and he is one of the four because Djourou is out for nearly the season. In this job you have always to be ready and the day you get the chance you can do well. If you are not ready, everybody will say he is not good enough to play for Arsenal Football Club.

“Now he is back with us so we will just give him a chance.”

Others like Sanchez,  Barazite, Coquelin and Randall have already shown flashes of what they can do with the reserve side. And do we need to talk about Gibbs who replaced Clichy effortlessly last season when when Gibbs was down with injury. To shepherd this young batch we have Mikael Silvestre. He has a lot of experience of his own he can be the  ‘calming influence’ that these youngsters need on the pitch.

So, let the games begin..