Gooner Talk

Arsenal have drawn Wigan Athletic in the quarter final of the Carling Cup.

The Gunners secured their place in the last eight with a 4-0 win over Newcastle this week.

Roberto Martinez’ side, who beat Swansea in the fourth round, will travel to the Emirates Stadium in the week commencing November 29.

Carling Cup Quarter Final Draw in full:

Arsenal v Wigan
Birmingham v Aston Villa
West Ham v Man Utd
Ipswich Town v West Brom

Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri has revealed that he would rather “concentrate on playing football” rather than discussing a new contract extension with the club.

The 23-year-old has had a stunning start to the season scoring seven times in his last seven appearances, including the opening goal in the 3-0 win over Manchester City at Eastlands last Sunday.

Recent reports have suggested that Nasri is close to signing a new long-term deal at the Emirates, but the player himself admits that he prefers to focus on the footballing side of things.

“I leave all this stuff [contract talks] to my representatives, I only care about playing football,” Nasri told Canal +.

Nasri, who is a regular in the France national team, joined Arsenal in a £12million switch from Marseille two years ago.

He’s on the verge of signing a new long-term contract extension with Arsenal, while many Gooners are already suggesting that the youngster has already established himself as the club’s future no.1 goalkeeper.

Wojciech Szczesny is a name that you’re likely to hear quite a lot in the near future. The young Pole’s Carling Cup performance against Newcastle last night drew many admirers after the 20-year-old displayed an accomplished shift in goal for the Gunners.

Szczesny is in the final year of his contract and previously warned that he will consider his future unless he is given a chance and based on last nights performance, Arsene Wenger certainly won’t want to let him go.

Check out the compilation of Szczesny in action last night:

Theo Walcott scored a superb double as Arsenal beat Newcastle 4-0 at St. James’ Park. The victory keeps up Arsenal’s average of 3 goals per game this season.

This season Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has actually fielded stronger teams than in recent years but his line-up at St James’ Park still showed nine changes from their weekend Premier victory over Manchester City.

Newcastle, whose virtual reserve team knocked out a second-string Chelsea in the last round, also made nine changes from their weekend win at West Ham United.

Szczesny
Eboue - Djourou – Koscielny – Gibbs
Denilson – Eastmond – Rosicky
Walcott – Bendtner – Vela

Both sides had good chances in an open first half, with Alan Smith hitting the bar for Newcastle, before Arsenal grabbed the lead just ahead of the interval with a somewhat bizarre goal.

Bendtner, making his first start of the season after recovering from a groin problem, thumped a header goalwards and Ryan Taylor’s attempt to clear it ended with the ball rebounding off his goalkeeper Tim Krul and over the line.

Walcott, in his first start since injuring his ankle playing for England in early September, broke clear to put Arsenal two up eight minutes into the second half but Newcastle were furious that Bendtner, who was returning from an offside position, collided with home defender Mike Williamson, taking him out of the action.

Bendtner completed his busy night when he collected a pass from substitute Cesc Fabregas to cut in and curl home an excellent third goal four minutes from time with Walcott adding a breakaway fourth in stoppage-time.

Leave your thoughts on Arsenal’s terrific Carling Cup win in the comments section below.

Highly-rated goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny is set to start only his second match for Arsenal after Arsene Wenger confirmed that the 20-year-old would start for the Gunners against Newcastle United in the fourth round of the Carling Cup tomorrow.

Szczesny impressed on loan at Brentford last season and was quoted as saying he wanted to be farmed out again this term if he wasn’t given more first team football.

However, Gunners boss Wenger has granted his wish by handing him a place in the starting XI at St James’ Park tomorrow evening.

“It will be similar to Spurs,” said Wenger. “We have players coming back like Walcott, Bendtner and Vela. Koscielny is fit to start. They will play.

“From the Man City game, we have no-one out [with injury]. One or two will be rested. Vela is back.”

“In the squad, we will have Eastmond, Lansbury and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas,” Wenger revealed. “Wojciech will be in goal.”

You can check out Arsene Wenger’s full pre-match interview here.

Related Article: Which Arsenal side would you field on Wednesday?

Arsenal could have been forgiven for wanting an easy time of things in the fourth round of the Carling Cup after their fantastic 4-1 victory over arch-rivals Spurs in the last round.

There was no such luck for Arsene Wenger’s side though, as they pulled Premier League new-boys Newcastle United out of the hat for their last 16 tie.

A similar Gunners side to the one that beat Spurs is expected to be named on Wednesday, consisting mainly of first team regulars and fringe players.

“We will go for every single competition this season with all the possible resources we have,” said Arsene Wenger at last week’s AGM.

“We will play a strong team at Newcastle. I am not saying Cesc will definitely play, because he is only just back from a hamstring injury and we have to be cautious.”

Gooner Talk’s Predicted Starting XI against Newcastle

Fabianski
Eboue – Koscielny – Squillaci – Gibbs
Diaby – Denilson – Rosicky
Walcott – Bendtner – Vela

What would be your ideal starting XI for Wednesday’s game? Should the likes of Jay-Emmanuel Thomas and Henri Lansbury be rewarded for their performances in the Gunners’ second string? Or is experience necessary if Arsenal are seriously targeting the Carling Cup this season?

Leave your views and predictions in the comments section below.