Barclays Premier League second placed Arsenal entertain nPower Championship side, Ipswich, on the evening of Tuesday 25th January 2011 in the second leg of their FA Carling Cup (League Cup) 2011 Semi-Final, needing a goal to get back on level terms on aggregate.
Ipswich Town carry the advantage from the first leg, which they won 1-0 at Portman Road a fortnight ago, thanks to a late goal from Tamas Priskin, though Arsenal have been putting in some stellar performances in the league since then, most recently by defeating Wigan 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium thanks to a Robin van Persie hat-trick.
Arsenal are likely to put in some younger faces to their usual Premier League starting XI. Arsene Wenger has indicated that a squad rotation from Saturday is likely owing to the heavy fixture schedule the club is experiencing: they remain in all competitions, and competitive in the league.
Ipswich have found this season’s Carling Cup to provide blessed relief from some abject league form, which has seen them in the mire at the wrong end of the Championship table. They currently sit 18th of 26 teams in the league, and have already parted ways with manager Roy Keane in a season which, league cup aside, their fans may want to forget. Their season hinges around this match, so players may produce an inspired performance, particularly if Arsenal’s ‘second string’ players are below their best.
An away goal from Ipswich would really throw some spice into this match, too, so there is plenty for neutral fans to get excited about tonight.
The match kicks off at 19:45 GMT at the Emirates Stadium, London.
