I really want to be excited about tomorrow’s Carabao Cup match against Tottenham at the Emirates. It’s a North London Derby. The Gunners recently beat Spurs 4-2. The quarterfinals are close enough to start seeing the gleam coming off the silverware.
Problem is, I’m distinctly “meh” about it. It may be because it’s difficult to get revved up for the Carabao Cup, the least important of Arsenal’s competitions this season. It may be because the Gunners are in the midst of an injury crisis and I’d rather see top players being rested and getting healthy than playing at the midweek. Or maybe it’s a personal problem and none of you feel the same way.
Fortunately, my lack of excitement is neither here nor there in the grand scheme of things. Arsenal play Tottenham tomorrow.
Both sides are dealing with a rash of injuries, so it will be interesting to see how Unai Emery and (future Manchester United manager?) Mauricio Pochettino treat the match. How many first choice players will they deploy? Will they risk players at positions in which the depth chart is thin?
For Arsenal, Hector Bellerin is the most recent visitor to the training room; he is expected to miss “some weeks” with a calf injury. Also out against Spurs are Dinos Mavropanos and Emile Smith Rowe. As I’m sure you know, Rob Holding and Danny Welbeck are both out for the season. The good news is that one or both of Shkodran Mustafi and Sead Kolasinac could return to fitness in time for tomorrow’s match.
Tottenham will be without Eric Dier, Mousa Dembele, Victor Wanyama, Jan Vertonghen, and Vincent Janssen. That Dier is out with appendicitis is particularly disappointing - I’m sure the Emirates faithful would have given him an extremely loud (see what I did there?) welcome back. Juan Foyth, Serge Aurier, and Davinson Sanchez are all questionable for the match.
WHAT: Arsenal vs. Tottenham, Carabao Cup Quarterfinal
WHERE: The Emirates
WHEN: Wednesday, December 19 11:45 AM PT | 2:45 PM ET | 7:45 PM BT
US TV: Streaming only on ESPN+ (paid subscription service, 7-day free trial available for new users)
For all your international streaming needs, check livesoccer.tv. As always, please do not discuss links to illegal streams here.