Arsenal News 24/7Writer: Nick Simmonett 
Date:Thursday January 25 2007
Time: 7:34PM
UK time is: 18:56:38
Choose your club
Other Sites
Network Navigation
Vital Partners
'If It's Football, It's Vital'
Enthusiasm Of Youth....Or Not?
I'm not one for tempting fate, and I had to think twice about publishing this but if our members provide good quality posts then I feel that we are obliged to publish them.
With that I give you this...
Now we all now how well our youngsters have done this season in the competition. The way they have gone to West Brom, Everton and Liverpool and played them off the park; and when having to dig deep from 2 goals down at Sh*te Heart Lane shows that IF we do make it to the final, they deserve to play.
But will it be the case?! Lets not forget, this is a cup final - and for any other team, a great opportunity to get a European spot in the bag for next season. I for one, think that they deserve their place in the starting XI for the final, but will the board and manager agree..... here are my reasons for doubting their places
a) Its in a nutreal ground, in Cardiff, with possibly 80,000 fans against Chelsea - could be a big and daunting experience
b) Chelsea are a great side, lets face it.... and they will most probably be playing their first team and will be vast favourites.
c) Could the youngsters finally freeze on the big stage? Dont forget, even the best players have struggled in Cup finals or massive games.
My final point would be the board taking into consideration the Arsenal fans. No doubt we all want to go to Cardiff and see our team in the final.
But would we want to/or afford to be able to pay all that money for travel and accomodation and ticket prices etc to go see our youth - kids - reserves (or what every you want to call it) play and possibly get beat?
Most football fans go to see their best team, or certain big players.
Its a tricky decision for Mr. Wenger, but personally Id think that we should just take the risk, play the same lads - and put in a great performance.
Come on your Gunners!
Articles submitted by Vital Arsenal members are based on the opinion of the member and not necessarily the view's of the network itself.
Seconds Out! Vital Boxing is here!
Vital F1 Prediction League - Join now for Monaco
Your Comments
Play them they deserve it! If they lose the pain of defeat will make them stronger for bigger tests to come. If we do win it let Wenger lift they trophy as it was his bravery and forsight that has helped the kids grow. Saying all that there is a very tricky 2nd leg on the horizon.
iceman10
well yesterday was a bit of both anyway with Toure, Fabregas and even the Beast in the team who you cant call kids (despite cesc's age). I think wenger may add one or two more first teamers in but I would not be surprised to see 5 or 6 'squad' players. I would support that approach.
gazzap
If they make it too the final I would like too see the team playing now feature. So should the fans aswell they made it to the stage they deserve to play there too.
Also the experience they would pick up would be invaluable. I wouldn't care if they lost the game, I just want to see them play their heart out. To be honest that's all I want from a player waying an Arsenal shirt, whether they win isn't important too me its them playing the Arsenal football.
Gunners
Buggerov will likely miss the return which limits the pikey threat, feel Ade will replace Aliadiere to start and maybe no Traore but apart from that pretty similiar team to yesterday.
nikolaijns
Play them and does it really matter if they lose. No because they get to play against chelsea in a cup final. They got there so they should play.
simon
Please lets not talk about the final yet eh? I'm as confident as fack but still.
nikolaijns
It's a tough call but it would be a huge lack of respect to the kids. They have done magnificently to get there and then in the biggest day 0f their lives (so far, until they win the Champions League!), they get dropped just because it is against Chelsea. Because think about Denilson who could face the likes of Essien, Ballack and Fat Frank in the middle of the park. That must be any kids' dream so why let it go? Besides the Carling Cup means nothing anyway!
super_gooner
i dont think the young guys will be fazed there is a certain type of fearlessness that young players have at this age. id love to watch them take on chelsea...but first things first.
mish
Plus we need to see if the kids are ready to step up into the 1st team, and what better opportunity for arsene to gauge that than in a cup final against premiership opposition !! but yes, 1st the semi-final pls - let us not tempt fate here.
prits
SHOULD we despatch the spuds next week and make it to the final, then the same players have earned their right to play in that final. They got the club there. They've not frozen at spurs, they've not frozen at liverpool. And even if they were to freeze in the final, it is, as arsene says, all fantastic experience for them. To be that young and play in the final of a cup competition, against the most expensively assembled team in the history of the game, in front of all those fans, and that atmosphere. They can only ever benefit from it. BUT we have to get there first of all. part one has been secured, we need to taka care of part 2 next week, and we all know what happened aganst wigan at the same point last year. (adopts yoda voice) 'Rest on our laurels, we should not, much work to still be done, there is...' »»Arsene Knows««
Wingston75
yes, i agree with most of you who say that the young gunz should play in the Final should we go through. As a an ex-basketball player, I can tell you that lack of experience doesn't necessarily mean you will freeze on the big stage. it largely depends on the individual. Further on, in a team sport another crucial thing is to have a leader. I feel Toure and Cesc, have done a splendid job throughout the competition and their presence has given the rest of the players a lot of confidence. Sometimes when you are young, you think not of the crowd and the surroundings, you want to prove yourself on the big stage and I am sure that you all have witnessed lots of youngsters in many sports exceed the expectations and rise to the occasion. These young gunz yesterday showed a lot of bottle and resilience and if they book their trip to Cardiff, AW will SURELY play most of them. This goes for Traore, Denilson, Aliadiere (if fit), Theo Walcott, Song, Hoyte etc. I am very very proud 2 B a Gooner.
G4L
i think the youngsters should play, if they don't then they might feel that mr wenger dosen't have faith in them and they might not feel like they are needed at the club
Arsenal_4_Life
if they make it they have to play, it would be crushing to do all that work to get to a final against the likes of everton, liverpool and tottenham just to be told your not good enuf for chelsea. personally i would love to see how they could handle such a fixture, and dont care if they win or lose as long as they have a good go, afterall there are more important trophies still to play for
Ozi Gooner
Arsenal Kids should play against the Russians they deserve it
afghenry
i think wenger should play the youth team only.. if they are good enough to reach the finals.. they are good enough to win it..
go4it_adi
1 chicken, 2 chickens, 3 chickens......
Little Dutch
yeah LD, we often accuse the spuds of something like this when they think they've already won against us - happened earlier in the season too. I hope we arent left with egg on our faces, like them. Fingers crossed :) !!
prits
Which is why I said ''If we make it too the final'' as much as I hate spurs they are a team who can possibly beat us.
If they make it too the final they should play in the final and the experienced players should watch them. Eventually they will have to carry the club on their shoulders. Playing chelsea now gives them a taste of what it is like to play on a high stage and against a quality team. If they can topple Chelsea that will only do well for their self esteem it would prove that they can take any challenge.
Gunners
Have Your Say
Recent Articles
Wilshere - More Points Needed From Big Teams (Thursday May 23 2013)
Who Is Your Vital Arsenal Player of the Season? (Tuesday May 21 2013)
Newcastle United 0 Arsenal 1 (Monday May 20 2013)
VIDEO: Wenger Praises 'Exceptional' Attitude (Monday May 20 2013)
Arsene Wenger, Now Is The Time (Monday May 20 2013)
The Moment That Made It All Worthwhile (Sunday May 19 2013)
Happy St Totteringham's Day To Gooners Everwhere (Sunday May 19 2013)
Team News: Last Game Of The Season (Sunday May 19 2013)
The Squeaky Bum Preview (Friday May 17 2013)
Wenger Confirms Sanogo Deal Almost Done (Friday May 17 2013)
Archived Articles
Vital Members League (view all)
| 1. | nikolaijns | 60 |
| 2. | Rocky7 | 53 |
| 3. | Naijagunner | 48 |
| 4. | Wyn Mills | 34 |
| 5. | prits | 22 |
| 6. | flv | 21 |
| 7. | Nwankwo25 | 20 |
| 8. | gunnerkid107 | 19 |
| 9. | No 10 | 16 |
| 10. | julieloveshenry4ever | 16 |
League Results (view all)
| Latest Results | ||||
| Newcastle | 0 | - | 1 | Arsenal |
| Arsenal | 4 | - | 1 | Wigan |
| Q.P.R. | 0 | - | 1 | Arsenal |
| Arsenal | 1 | - | 1 | Man Utd |
| Fulham | 0 | - | 1 | Arsenal |
| Arsenal | 0 | - | 0 | Everton |
League Table (view table)
| Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 1. Man Utd | 38 | 28 | 5 | 5 | 43 | 89 |
| 2. Man City | 38 | 23 | 9 | 6 | 32 | 78 |
| 3. Chelsea | 38 | 22 | 9 | 7 | 36 | 75 |
| 4. Arsenal | 38 | 21 | 10 | 7 | 35 | 73 |
| 5. Spurs | 38 | 21 | 9 | 8 | 20 | 72 |
| 6. Everton | 38 | 16 | 15 | 7 | 15 | 63 |
| 7. Liverpool | 38 | 16 | 13 | 9 | 28 | 61 |
Breaking League News
| Saints Elite Centre Still Has Places Available
» Southampton : 23/05/2013 18:47:00
|
| The Villa Times - 23/05/2013
» Aston Villa : 23/05/2013 18:07:00
|
| Managerial Odds Update
» Stoke : 23/05/2013 18:01:00
|
| Pulis Thanks Fans
» Stoke : 23/05/2013 17:53:00
|
| Rat the Optimist
» West Ham : 23/05/2013 16:47:00
|
| Carroll Make Your Mind Up Son!
» West Ham : 23/05/2013 16:46:00
|
| Carroll Injury Update
» West Ham : 23/05/2013 16:45:00
|
Current Site Poll (view all polls)
|
|