Up for the Cup? A Clash between West Ham and Arsenal
Tonight’s Rumbelows Cup fixture between West Ham and Arsenal may not be the most eye-catching, but it holds a special significance as fans get to witness a former club legend facing his old team for the first time since his departure. The inclusion of Konstantinos Mavropanos in the starting lineup adds to the excitement, making this fourth-round match an ideal opportunity to showcase the big Greek fringe player.
On the other hand, Mikel Arteta is more focused on bigger challenges, which may result in the talented Declan Rice starting on the bench for the away team. West Ham fans were recently given a chance to voice their opinions on whether they would boo their first captain to lift silverware for the club upon his return, and Arteta seems hopeful that Rice will receive a warm reception. Regardless of the fans’ reaction, Rice is unlikely to be bothered as he is a professional who has been through such experiences before.
In another captivating fixture, Newcastle, still bitter from their loss in last year’s Milk Cup final, have the opportunity to avenge their defeat against Manchester United. However, revenge is not their main goal. Eddie Howe states that their only focus is winning the game and securing a spot in the quarter-finals. Both teams will undoubtedly be highly motivated for this one-off game.
Elsewhere in the Capital One Cup, Everton takes on Burnley in the Sean Dyche derby, with Everton having more motivation to succeed than their former manager’s current team. Meanwhile, Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is likely already thinking about his upcoming Premier League games and is expected to field a squad of young players and staff against Blackburn. Bournemouth aims to continue their winning streak against Liverpool, while Ipswich, a formidable Championship side, might choose to lose against whichever team Fulham puts out to focus on their promotion race.
Join Scott Murray for live coverage of the Milk Cup match between Manchester United and Newcastle, as Michael Butler guides you through the rest of the night’s fixtures and the quarter-final draw. Don’t miss out!
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“You need more matches to come to that opinion. If you watch the games against Liverpool, Dortmund, or Luton, in different circumstances, [Nicolas Jackson] is a different player. It is dangerous to make this analysis on one game.” – Mauricio Pochettino takes a dig at Alan Shearer for criticizing his Chelsea striker’s goalscoring ability based on one match.
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