1-0 up from the first leg, at least Ipswich have something to cling on to at Arsenal

Arsenal v Ipswich, Carling Cup semi-final second leg, January 25, 2011

Arsenal 1.137; Draw 9.200; Ipswich 24.000

Bet on theCarling Cup with Pinnacle Sports.

Arsenal have lost two games in their last 10 matches. One defeat came at Old Trafford, the other at Portman Road. So well have the Gunners been playing that even with their slight advantage from the first leg, it is almost impossible to see how Ipswich can eke their way to the Carling Cup final against either Birmingham or West Ham.

In the past week, Arsenal have scored three goals at West Ham and Leeds and then at home to Wigan on Saturday. Arsene Wenger rotated some of his players for the FA Cup match at Elland Road but the Gunners continue to look formidable to even mid-table Premier League teams and they could have scored double figures had it not been for a special performance by Ali Al-Habsi for the Latics.

Robin van Persie was the undoubted star of the show with a hat-trick (and a missed penalty). The Dutchman wasnt the only class act on display with Cesc Fabregas in terrific form and the likes of Theo Walcott, Samir Nasri, Jack Wilshere and Alexandre Song making up a formidable midfield.

Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou were again at the heart of the defence for another clean sheet, Arsenals fourth successive in the Premier League. Perhaps one glimmer of hope for Ipswich comes from the fact that whilst Arsenals very best players will populate the bench, Arsene Wenger will rotate his squad and there will be many of the players that lost the first leg.

Speaking after the Wigan win, The Professor said: We will rotate, we have no choice. We play nine games in ! January, its the most we have ever played. When you look at the fixtures we had in December it means we need to rotate from game to game. But we have fantastic players on the bench and it is very important because we cannot always play with the same XI.

Roy Keanes former assistant Ian McParland oversaw the first leg victory by getting in behind Arsenals defence with Tamas Prsikin and Connor Wickham in particular playing well. Priskin bagged the only goal on 78 minutes and could well have had a sensational opener in the first half with an overhead kick that was correctly ruled out for offside.

The architect of Ipswichs win, Ian McParland has since left the club with Paul Jewell in charge with Chris Hutchings installed as his assistant. Almost four years ago to the day, Jewell led his then Wigan side to a 2-1 defeat at Highbury to put them through on away goals at the expense of the Gunners in a Carling Cup semi-final second leg.

In two games as Ipswich boss so far, Jewell has overseen a 2-1 defeat at Millwall followed by a 3-2 victory over Doncaster. Whilst they should have more than enough quality to stay in the Championship, this fixture looks a big ask, especially as only a few weeks ago they were on the end of a 7-0 spanking by Chelsea in the FA Cup.

For many of the Ipswich players this will be the biggest game of their careers and it is easy to get run into the ground by Arsenals relentless attacking football at the Emirates. The likes of Grant Leadbitter, Carlos Edwards and David Norris will put in 110% but they may well be lacking the requisite quality to go through even against Arsene Wengers second string.

101gg predicts: Arsenal 5 Ipswich 0

Arsenal 1.137; Draw 9.200; Ipswich 24.000

Bet on theCarling Cup with Pinnacle Sports.


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