Rivals Arsenal and Spurs breathe life into the Carling Cup as they march into the quarter finals
Last updated 11/14/2008 9:09:49 AM
Rivals Arsenal and Spurs breathe life into the Carling Cup
I would pay to watch Arsenal's Carling Cup side play their Premiership team in a winner take all match – and that is saying something from a man who has been paid to watch football at its highest level for more than 40 years.
How can you be anything but optimistic about the future of football after watching those Arsenal teenagers follow up their victory over Sheffield United by going one step further to beat the rugged Premiership men of Wigan 3-0 to progress through to the quarter final of the oft derided Carling Cup.
There was not too much criticism of the competition this week, for the Gunners Babes, apart from turning on the charm again, attracted a crowd of almost 60,000; Manchester United's much changed team had 62,539 watching them beat QPR 1-0; Chelsea attracted 41,369 as they tumbled out to giant killers Burnley and bubbling Spurs pulled in 33,242 to watch them take their goal tally under Harry Redknapp to 18 goals in six games with their 4-2 win over Liverpool.
Why do the fans turn up in their thousands in the middle of a credit crunch to watch teams which they know are going to be so different to the usual League team?
For a start it is the opportunity for those who are still on the waiting list for season tickets (or tickets of any sort). Secondly it is a chance to see what is coming through and, finally, where Arsenal are concerned, they are going to watch glorious football from a bunch of teenagers who know no fear and score goals for fun.
Both Sheffield United and Wigan saw an opportunity of glory and progress in this competition with its final at Wembley and both turned out full strength teams. Men against the boys, you might say.
But who were the men and who were the boys?