Arsenal League Cup Best Of...
Posted by Gringo Maclure in Arsenal | 9 January 2008
Arsenal have made it to the semi-finals of the English League Cup 4 seasons out of the last 5, and on the other occasion they were beaten in the quarters by Manchester United. What makes this record all the more impressive is that it has been accomplished by groups of players whose average age barely scrapes out of the teens. It is a startling footnote in Arsene Wenger's glittering CV that he has consisently fought off the country's best with untried rookies.
On Wednesday the Gunners play a two-legger versus Spurs in a re-match of last season's thrillers at the Lane and Emirates. So, drum roll please, here a self-indulgent countdown of the youngsters' top 5 League Cup games of the last 5 seasons.
5. Arsenal 3-1 Everton (04/05). A full-strength Everton side take the lead after 8 minutes. An Owusu-Abeyie stirke and Lupoli double see them off before 90 minutes are up. Everton should be grateful the score was so respectable - against Arsenal's firsts at Highbury later that season they were buried 7-0.
4. Blackburn 2-3 Arsenal (07/08). Granted Blackburn's recent form has not been sparkling, but the northeast team known for their strong arm tactics knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup last season at Ewood Park. After letting Blackburn back into the game after being 2-0 up inside half an hour, the 10-men Gunners rally and Eduardo cooly steals victory in extra time.
3. Arsenal 5-3 Spurs over two legs (06/07). At 2-0 up at home, Spurs must have fancied their chances against the Gunners second string. Baptista was on hand to score, but it was the impressive Denilson and Diaby bossing the centre of the park that contributed to the level scoreline being taken back to the Emirates. Here, the red and whites conceded a late Mido goal to send the game into extra time, but came through 3-1 winners to seal the final berth against Chelsea which they only narrowly lost.
2. Arsenal 5-1 Wolves (03/04). The game that spawned the joke: "What are the two best teams in north London?" Answer: Arsenal and Arsenal reserves. A fresh-faced Aliadiere scored a blinder against the then EPL Wolves but the game will probably stand out in the memory as being the occasion in which a young 16 year old Spaniard named Francesc scored his first goal in an Arsenal shirt.
1. Liverpool 3-6 Arsenal (06/07). Surely, one of the biggest upsets of recent years in any competition. A very strong Liverpool side, playing at home, concede six against a rag-bag collection of the Arsenal squad. True, it was the older, more experienced Baptista who stole the show with his 4 goals but everyone did their bit not least the midfield quartet of Walcott, Fabregas, Denilson and Song who played the likes of Alonso and Gerrard off the park.
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