I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I really see tonight’s Cup fixture against City a must-win game.

We don’t usually prioritise this trophy in the traditional sense. But tonight, given the patchiness of our form, given the injuries, we just need the opportunity to get a win, in a different competition with a different atmosphere, and relish the opportunity of progressing to a semi-final.

That opportunity presents itself at Eastlands where we face a team on a record string of draws, needing to prove themselves after huge amounts of dosh were splashed in assembling their squad.

And this is the squad announced to try and do just that.

A big omission in that team list is Phillipe Senderos, and the biggest candidates to step into his slot are Alex Song and Kyle Bartley. If Song is being used tonight, there would be little point putting him in defence where he would not be used in the league campaign.

So it’s a huge opportunity for the reserves captain Bartley to impress Wenger, to impress the fans, and to bloody well keep City at bay.

I expect Ramsey, Wilshere and Merida all to start with Song shielding them in midfield, while Walcott and Eduardo should start up front.

Fabianski should make his return to the squad while Traore and Eboue take their place on the flanks.

Man City are clearly favourites tonight, but they are on a horrible, unheard-of run of draws. Players like Wayne Bridge and Micah Richards are out and Kolo Toure’s looking shaky. But they have players who can slice and dice up teams, most notably with Craig Bellamy, Stephen Ireland, Shaun Wright-Phillips and of course, Emmanuel Voldimort.

Tough match, tough match. But these kids have done it before, and it’s just so bloody brilliant to watch some of these prospects.

A win will be the perfect tonic for the last few weeks. Be it scrappy, scintillating…whatever, it’s a new day, a new month, a new opportunity to get a rickety season back on track.

Get behind the lads, gents! Your predictions, thoughts and diatribes in the comments.

Filed under: Arsenal, Carling Cup, Manchester City