Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is ready to bid for EFL Cup glory with senior players as he grapples with a selection headache ahead of Tuesday s fourth-round tie against Norwich City.
The Gunners returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion by beating Everton 5-2 on Sunday – a result that saw Ronald Koeman lose his job in charge of the Goodison Park outfit.
Alexandre Lacazette, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez started a Premier League game together and all got on the scoresheet, leaving Wenger to marvel at the attacking talent he has at his disposal.
The long-serving manager has previously used the EFL Cup to blood young talent but the depth of his fully fit forward options means Championship side Norwich should be ready to face a strong line-up at Emirates Stadium.
That s the luxury I have at the moment and the difficulty I have as well, Wenger told Arsenal s official website. All these players do well, play well and they deserve to play.
Fortunately, we have important games every week, so I can give competition to everybody. We have so much offensive force on the bench as well. It s really a strong point of the club at the moment.
27 has scored 27 goals in all comps in 2017, more than any other French player of the Top 5 leagues. Russia?
— OptaJean (@OptaJean)
Youthful Arsenal sides plotted a route to the 2007 and 2011 finals before coming up short against Chelsea and Birmingham City respectively, however Wenger suggested things will be different this time around.
I always used [the EFL Cup] to give a chance to young boys. We went to the final with a very young team and nearly won it, he added.
I always focus on winning trophies in the Premier League and FA Cup domestically, and always used the League Cup as an education for our young players.
But with this team I have the squad to go further, so let s see. Let s focus on winning the match against Norwich and then we ll see where we will go.
