As Arsenal take on City’s provisional Europa League side today, we are certain to see the return of some former players at the Emirates.

As they are not of much use in the league Kolo and $amir should feature, along with the rest of the mercenaries now collecting checks to sit on the bench.

Many of these Manchester City players are living the American Dream, getting paid more while working less, Na$ri a prime example. He left Arsenal to double his wages at City, yet play only half the minutes. Genius! We may be underestimating him.

But certainly he needs the run out, as the lack of cardio is telling as he is beginning to fill out and resemble Chaz Bono…

Shrewd businessmen they may be, but let’s not forget they know their way around a pitch. Their reserves cost more than our entire squad, depth we can only envy. The Arsenal squad will be rotated and we won’t be seeing as many youngsters as many had hoped. I have always enjoyed the youth played in the Cup and it’s a shame more of them will miss the chance of a run out, but the thought of our kids against City is a bit intimidating.

Wenger will ring the changes and we can expect many of the fringe players to get minutes, including our Ox in the Box, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and the young bull that is Manny Frimpong. I was hoping to see Coquelin in the eleven but i suppose we will have to wait and see if he gets any action. He seems the more complete midfielder compared to Frimpong, his engine, tackling, and ability to pick a pass setting him apart in my mind.

There should be more youngsters involved in defense as we are threadbare at fullback due to the numerous injuries. Maybe Miquel and Yennaris will play, or center backs will be moved out wide again. Either way, first team defenders need rest as we can not afford any more injuries at the back.

The much maligned deputies up front will get a chance to shine, their chances coming few and far between. To be fair to Park, he has hardly had any time on the pitch and Chamakh may get more grief than he deserves, but they need to come good and score goals. Andrey shone in the last League Cup match and one wonders when, if ever, he will show the magic that captivated fans in his first season. There will be firepower aplenty, they will need to take their chances efficiently and show that they can get the job done without Robin on the pitch.

The team is not easy to pick, as a demoralizing defeat is not something we need against the team attempting to pry away all of our talent. I was nervous about this match but then proceeded to watch a replay of the home victory against Barcelona from last season and I say bring it. We have the talent, this won’t be the fluent starting XI City have been playing, it will be an open game. We aren’t expected to win so one could hope the pressure would be off and the squad can play their game and make the best of it.

As the wise @YankeeGunner said:

“If we lose today, it’s only the Carling Cup. If we win, it’s definitive proof we’re better than city. It’s really that simple.”

And that’s all there is to it. Nobody cares about the PBR Cup if we lose, and winning with fringe players will have the City team shaking in their boots at the thought of facing a full strength Arsenal side. I’ll hope for an 89th minute winner from our Korean assassin, Park, after intercepting an errant back pass from one of our former players… come on football gods, make it happen.