NOW ARSENE SEEKS FINAL REDEMPTION
ARSENAL will put out a strong team for the Carabao Cup because Arsene Wenger sees it as their best chance of silverware. The two-legged semi-final will become a slugfest, with Chelsea are also set to field a first choice line-up. But the tie has become even more important to the Gunners following their FA Cup humiliation by Nottingham Forest. Wenger rested Mesut Ozil, Alexandre Lacazette and Jack Wilshere for the trip to the City Ground, which ended in a 4-2 win for the Championship club, but they are expected to be involved against Chelsea tomorrow. Arsenal will have David Ospina in goal but otherwise it will be a first choice XI. Wenger has enjoyed great success in the FA Cup, winning it three times in the last four years. The Forest debacle was the first thirdround exit in Wenger’s 21 years in charge. But Mirror Sport understands nothing has changed regarding the manager’s future. The Frenchman, 68, signed a two-year deal in the summer and, even though the backroom set-up is changing, Wenger has no intention of leaving early. Arsenal made it clear there was no break clause in his contract to stop the debate over his future which blighted last season. The Gunners want a senior centre-half in this transfer window and may need another at the end of the campaign when Per Mertesacker retires. Mertesacker (above) was brutally honest about the performance at Forest and admitted no fringe player seized their chance to impress. He said: “The players who didn’t play a lot recently, no one justified their selection. That sums it up. “It was difficult. In the first half, we played ‘in the park’ a little bit – we weren’t precise, especially in the final third. We couldn’t get a lot of chances. Second half, there was a little bit more spirit but they outbattled us. “The momentum never really changed apart from when we scored for 3-2. “It’s difficult to take because for those players who played it was probably their last chance to show up and show the manager they are ready to play more games. “It’s not the case any more.”