Another Carling Cup day, already? This tournament should really cram it all into one listless winter evening a la the Europa League.
Until that happens—read: never—we’ll congregate for three barnstorming tilts in England, as well as a fuller slate of European Little Cup games spread across the continent.
First up, the Baby Gunners remove their training wheels and spring into action at St. James’ Park, where they’ll face a Magpies side eager to quash the stylish youth resistance.
Wenger has noted that some of his older players will participate—Theo Walcott (21 years old), Wojciech Szczesny (20) to name but two grizzled vets—and we might even witness the return of Nicklas Bendtner, who vows to show the Gunners fans what they’ve been missing. By that I presume he’s referring to his nearly 1-in-4 scoring rate and his unflinching ability to miss 10 easy chances before converting a much more difficult scoring opportunity. Well, those things and his pink boots, I suppose.
Elsewhere, Aston Villa host Burnley in a Battle of Claret Shirts, while West Ham entertain Stoke City in a Battle of Claret Spilled from Leg Wounds, Head Wounds, and other Assorted Areas. It’s got the makings of a classic afternoon, doesn’t it?
Fixtures after the jump.
Scores updated every 30 mins or so
CARLING CUP
HT – Aston Villa 0, Burnley 0
HT – Newcastle U 0, Arsenal 1
STARTING LINEUPS:
Newcastle United: Krul, Perch, Williamson, Kadar, Ryan Taylor, Routledge, Guthrie, Smith, Vuckic, Lovenkrands, Ranger.
Subs: Soderberg, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Carroll, Gutierrez, Tiote.
Arsenal: Szczesny, Eboue, Djourou, Koscielny, Gibbs, Denilson, Eastmond, Rosicky, Walcott, Bendtner, Vela.
Subs: Fabianski, Sagna, Fabregas, Arshavin, Emmanuel-Thomas, Lansbury, Nordtveit.
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).
HT – West Ham U 0, Stoke C 1
COPPA ITALIA
AET – Frosinone, 2 Reggina 4
FT – Udinese 4, Padova 0
FT – Vicenza 1, Ascoli 0
FT – Atalanta 0, Livorno 1
85 – Cesena 1, Novara 1
55 – Bologna 0, Modena 1
55 – Brescia 1, Cittadella 0
55 – Cagliari 2, Piacenza 0
55 – Crotone 0, Albinoleffe 0
55 – Catania 2, Varese 0
55 – Lecce 1, Siena 1
HT – Lazio 2, Portogruaro
DFB POKAL
FT – Alemannia Aachen 2, Mainz 1
FT – Eintracht Frankfurt 5, Hamburger SV 2
FT – Hallescher FC 0, Duisburg 3
FT – Hoffenheim 1, Ingolstadt 0
55 – Chemnitzer FC 0, Stuttgart 0
55 – Elversberg 0, Nurnberg 2
55 – Kickers Offenbach 0, Borussia Dortmund 0
55 – Monchengladbach 0, Bayer Leverkusen 0
COUPE DE LA LIGUE
FT – Guingamp 0, Marseille 1
FT – Lille 4, Caen 1
85 – Auxerre 4, Bastia 0
HT – Lyon 1, Paris S.G. 0
COPA DEL REY
85 – Logrones 0, Valencia 3
85 – Real Union 0, Sevilla 3
HT – Cordoba 1, Racing Santander 0
HT – Hercules 0, Malaga 0
HT – Mallorca 2, Sporting Gijon 0
HT – Poli Ejido 0, Villarreal 1
HT – Portugalete 0, Getafe 1
HT – Valladolid 0, Espanyol 1
HT – Xerez 1, Levante 0
Real Betis v. Zaragoza (ko: 4p ET)
Universidad L.P. v. Atletico Madrid (ko: 4p ET)
SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP
60 – St. Johnstone 2, Celtic 3
HT – Kilmarnock 0, Rangers 1
Barton’s just making up for lost time
aaaand ET at Villa Park.
Now that’s how you clear the ball keeper.
@TrentonPRU – I don’t think anyone really answered your question /tsk tsk. So, I can’t even see the game but just reading the ticker. Vela started (which wouldn’t usually happen). Szczensy got to be No.1 (which also isn’t usual), Djourou is getting more playing time these days, so that makes sense. Eastmond started who would be considered 2nd team too. Just FYI.
What’s really surprising about the German Cup match is that Dortmund is still tied @ 0-0 with Kickers, a 3rd division side, with a relatively full-strength side.
@Anon – what happened and by whom that a goal celebration was poor?
@OM – that seems to be happening these days in Spain too. Maybe it’s a thing going around.
@MW: Theo Walcott. It was too ridiculous to describe.
@TPRU – also Emmanuel-Thomas got to come on late in the game. so there’s another ‘kid’. It’s not so much that they’re younger it’s just they get less first team playing time.
@Wag, Walcott scored twice, and both times went up to Eboue and this thing where he points both fingers in the air…looks annoying, kinda like Denilson’s celebration after that opening day stunner at Everton, only straight in the air and no head shake
@anon – damm*t. I’m on the edge of my seat now.
He doesn’t just point his fingers in the air. He moves his arms up and down, too.
That celebration was in the FIFA WC video game as well.
@wac – did he do ‘big lips’ (a-la-mick-jagger)? Because then it would be okay…/sort of.
.
The whole finger in the air as if thanking god? or saying their number one? Because if it’s the god thing – has anyone seen The Onion movie and the sketch about the athlete blaming god for their team’s loss that day? If not, you should. HYSTERICAL.
Derdy with a goal for Leverkusen! Heading into the 2nd extra time.
@Anon – okay, that does sound ridiculous. i’ll have to google it. Since I don’t have the WC game to see it’s retardation…
@Wag, more like alternating thrusts in the air…
http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/theo-walcott-newcastle-7348597/
Bah. M’gladbach get the equalizer.
Downing puts Villa back ahead. phew for now.
Cripes. Albrighton sent off for a challenge just outside the box.
Friedel is keeping Villa in the competition right now.
HTET.
Looks like we got manhandled…missed the whole thing by being in a sexual harassment seminar so I suppose comparing the game to rape would be a bit off….
Iwelumo on for Burnley as the second half of ET kicks off.
@prada: Arsenal had consensual buttsecks with Newcastle, then?
@Prada, You weren’t manhandled, we just finished our chances. Also, Newcastle didn’t create much…
MW: The goals are already up over at 101GG… You can see brief snippets of the ‘celebration’ in the highlights.
Ginger on for Ginger as Collins replaces Sidwell.
I think Arsenal bought Newcastle enough drinks so that Newcastle would be more agreeable to Arsenal’s advances.
oy; Cuellar had to head off the line, but Villa are through 2-1 in ET.
Ok, on Arsenal’s second today, does Bentdner not just take out the most central defender as he is tracking back to potentially defend? That’s a foul in my book.
Anyone agree?
@Hannibal: See above. I do. Wacman does not. Jacob appeared to agree, then he appeared to ride the fence. Ryan agreed, but wouldn’t call it, because he’s a puss.
/kidding, Ryan!
Ha, I don’t believe that was my position. Basically my point was, yeah there’s was contact, stemming from Pinky being an idiot and not just getting out of the way. However, the defender made an absolute meal of it, and I don’t think he was catching Walcott anyways, so I’m okay with the referee swallowing his whistle there.
I can see it going either way. After watching the replay, I’m more inclined to take Wac’s view that the defender tried to force a call by taking a dive. But I’m shall remain undecided. Short of becoming a gopher, how does Nicky stay out of the way while two CBs bear down on him?