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As usual it's hard to predict anything when it comes to the Arsenal line-up, as we approach a League Cup tie.
Up front is where Wenger's options are most limited. Wiltord, Bergkamp, and Aliadiere are all injured still. The 2 more senior strikers in that list have a chance of being fit for the FA Cup tie at the weekend, but Aliadiere is out for a few weeks. Le Boss has stated that Henry will definitely be rested, which leaves Kanu (Arsenal confirm that he is staying till after this match).
Other candidates to play in attack include David Bentley and Michal Papadopolus, and I wouldn't be surprised if both of those 2 start: Bentley on the wing and Papadopolus up front with Kanu. You never know though, someone else like Ryan Smith, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie or Daniel Karbassyoon could get a shot. Maybe Toure will be on hand too, on the bench maybe just in case, to step into the breach as well (he looked handy enough in his late sub appearance up front at Villa).
At the back, Graham Stack will probably play in goal, and young full-backs Gael Clichy and Justin Hoyte might start too perhaps with a more experienced central defensive pairing such as Keown and Cygan or Toure (Tavlaridis has left on loan since the last round).
There's bound to be a bit of experience in midfield too, perhaps Edu and Parlour since they're the 2 of our main midfield sextet who did not start on Sunday.
Boro could come with a more attacking dimension to their tactics than in the last match. Juninho made a difference then when he came on as a late sub, so we expect him to start. And Mendieta is available again too.
The other aspect to their possible shift in tactics is that the defence, which was unusually ineffective in that 4-1 loss, has been pretty much decimated. Gareth Southgate and Colin Cooper are both out with hamstring injuries and Ugo Ehiogu is a major doubt with a groin strain. Jonathan Greening is also injured but with Zenden, Juninho, Mendieta, Job and Ricketts they ought to be able to venture forward once in a while.
It'll be interesting to see if Danny Mills tries his pantomime villain act on the less experienced opponents he'll be up against this time....
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