Why Arsenal’s kids can win at Blackburn... (19/12)

[gooner.ed]

http://www.onlinegooner.com/editorial/index.php?id=90

usual thread starter… so who do you fancy in the semis? And do you think the team can win over two legs? Think toure played in central defence in last season’s campaign, but I am not so convinced that senderos and song are quite solid enough to get the team through a two-legged semi. Hope I am wrong. Maybe djourou will be back by then, but kolo will be in Africa, so forget him as an option.

[DanielD]

I'm pretty sure that the boss will pick both central defenders that aren't playing in the league at the time, so Gallas is not an option, it's between Senderos, Djourou and maybe the new signing, but you never know, after his performance last night, Song could be an option as well (especially with big phil's form at the moment).

[Magic Hat]

Liverpool or Chelsea and we will be doomed, Spurs we may be able to outscore and Everton would be very close but a possible win. I think we will see a lot of high balls in the semi's aimed at exploiting our defenders.

[donaldo]

The reason we can beat Blackburn in the carling cup and not the league is simple.If the youngsters get beaten they will not get critised.Wenger can turn around and say i played a butch of kids.If the first eleven gets beaten there is no excuse.How many Gooners thought we would win last night,I didm"t think we would.

It makes a big difference it you can go onto the pitch with no pressure on you to win.It happened in the final last year when we outplayed the Chelsea first team for 60mins when we were huge underdogs

[proudtosaythatname]

I think Ed has an interesting theory though I'm not totally convinced. I think it's more that this team see the Carling Cup as their competition as a result of some clever motivation by Wenger, who will play them right to the final. I'd love to see them at Wembley.

Last night was fantastic for Arsenal and a great night for football all round. I think Song on last night's form is a potential replacement in Kolo's absence - unrecognisable from the error-strewn performance at Craven Cottage two seasons back and certainly preferable to the clumsy Senderos, who is now struggling even to reach Cygan standards.

St Tottenginghams would be my choice semi-final opponents, despite their recent improvement. Must confess that after we went down to 10 men I thought we might have to listen on Saturday to a few choruses from them of '2-0 and you f***** it up!'. But we didn't.

[stevenzgorac]

Really doesn't work for me this explanation -

Insults the unquestionable talent of these guys, their freshness and desire to take the opportunity to impress their boss.

The kids really are exceptional and you will see that they will toast Spurs in the semis. The reality is that no matter how better known they are to Spurs, half of them could probably get a starting place in the Spurs first team anyway. Hence I would like to see a nice retraction from online ed when we make it through to da final.

[Wayno]

I think that there is some element of truth in ed's theory, I also believe that it is down to youthful exuberance and an almost cavalier attitude.

Their defending is at times haphazard and unconventional, yet when going forward they appear sprightly in their passing and without fear.

They are even willing to do what the first team were so often criticised for not doing enough of last season and that is to shoot.