West Brom (A)

After some good league and European performances tomorrow night we travel to the Hawthorns to take on West Brom in the Capital One Cup or whatever it is now. I first expected Wenger to make wholesale changes but then realised that our squad is so bare that we may have to play some first-team players.

Guessing the squad will be hard but I think it's fairly safe to assume Viviano will start between the sticks to make his debut. I've heard good things but hopefully tomorrow will give us a better look at the Italian. The back line will more than likely include the likes of Jenkinson, Vermaelen and Monreal. The midfield is an area where we are short so I expect it to remain roughly the same, we may see more of Arteta depending on how he came out of the last 10 at the weekend. Ozil trained but I doubt he'll be played. The front line is an interesting one. Bendtner has been included and may start, I think Gnabry will start after his weekend performance and on the other wing we might see Myiachi start.

West Brom will take the match seriously and it will be a difficult game regardless of what team we put out. West Brom have had a rough start this season but they're still a dangerous team especially with the likes of Sessegnon adding to their ranks. But without Lukaku this season they have struggled for goals scoring just 4 in the league from 5 matches.

It's a really difficult game to call with us more than likely fielding a weakened team and them below their best so far this season. It'll give some players the chance to shine, Viviano has his chance to show why we signed him from Fiorentina and keep SZCZ on his toes, whilst players like Gnabry and Myiachi have the chance to show off their potential.

I'm not gonna predict this one cause it's such a strange match up, hopefully we can do the business and keep this little run going.  

Reading 5-7 Arsenal?!?!

Last night I sat and watched quite possibly the most ridiculous 120 minutes of football I've ever seen. I saw Arsenal at their absolute worse and then at one of their best. A combination of defensive errors, keeping errors and just terrible play meant that after 37 minutes we were 4-0 down to a Reading side that we had basically let run riot. We all had that feeling that we could have been well and truly embarrassed and it was looking more than possible that we'd go down conceding more than 8.

Then came the first of three moments that changed the entire match. Arshavin who had another hit and miss match, slid the ball through for Walcott who clipped the ball over the onrushing keeper and we had a faint glimer of hope. After presumably a bollocking at the half Wenger sent the same side out to correcct their mess. We began to get a foothold in the game and then the second turning point in the match when Wenger brought on Giroud and Eisfled, which turned out to be an inspired substitution. 2 minutes after arriving Giroud powered his header back across goal and it was 4-2 and we started to believe.

The game went on and then hope began to fade as we seemed to be throwing chances away. In the 89th minute, Koscielny put right his wrong and also scored a header. This only galvanised the team and 6 minutes into the added 4, Walcott's shot crossed the line and was cleared off, the official didn't give it but Jenkinson made sure the ball went in and smashed it into the net. 4-4 and we were in control. In an amusing moment at the end of this Coquelin and Giroud threw their shirts into the crowd, before being told there was no replay in this competition.

The equaliser was the last turning point in the match and totally deflated the hosts. We kicked off extra time and the game was a bit end to end and after a few scary moments, Chamakh the man who hasn't scored in 13 months drilled his shot low into the corner and we had the lead for the first time in the match.

We started the second half of extra time and rather predictably Reading scored from a header and then penalties looked a sure thing. But Walcott who played outstandingly wasn't having that and after a bit of confusion he smashed the ball home from about 8 yards sending the absolutely immense away support into utter delirium. Moments later Chamakh put the icing on the cake lobbing the keeper from 30 yards and that was finally that.

Overall it was a ridiculous night, in which we conceded 5 yet through spirit, grit and determination sent all of our away fans, who were most definitely our 12th man, away with beaming smiles.