the squad looks very attack heavy with too many players wanting to play in the available three slots. Theo Walcott is almost certainly likely to start on the right with probably Nicklas Bendtner on the left.

After watching last night’s El Clásico, I very much have the taste for Arsenal football this evening. It may not be as glamorous as the two largest teams in Spain going head to head but Carling cup nights at the Emirates has been a bit special for the Arsenal over the last few years, there is a sense of freedom and enjoyment around the stadium when the Carling cup rolls into town.

Wigan Athletic provide the obstacle, behind them await the semi final’s, so it is a very good target to aim for and I am sure the players will want to grab the opportunity with both hands.

Wigan are not strangers to this fixture, recently beaten by chippy Vela and company a few years back and they have also broken Arsenal hearts when Jason Roberts bundled his way through to put the away side through.

Arsene will send out a strong looking team into the game, it will be a chance to see Robin Van Persie start the game for the first time since August. That is very exciting, a game where he can sharpen up without the pressure of the Premier League. Robin will not be the only offensive player looking to be included in the team, as I mentioned on Twitter and yesterday’s blog, the squad looks very attack heavy with too many players wanting to play in the available three slots. Theo Walcott is almost certainly likely to start on the right with probably Nicklas Bendtner on the left.

This would of course mean a substitute place for both Carlos Vela and Jay Emmanuel-Thonas who would have wanted this chance to have shown their value.

I believe that Nicklas Bendtner will start in a wider position and if he does not make the starting eleven then I will have to believe all the whispers about his future being elsewhere.

In midfield we have less options as Abou Diaby is injured and Aaron Ramsey is currently doing his thing for Nottingham Forest. I think it is almost certain that Denilson will play alongside Craig Eastmond but the third member of that midfield is not quite as straight forward. Samir Nasri will be rested I would imagine so the choices could be limited to Rosicky or Wilshere. As Tomas has had less football, I believe Wenger will choose him.

Koscielny could forge a partnership with Johan Djourou and Emmanuel Eboue has made a speedy recovery and will be our outlet down the right side. Kieran Gibbs will please the masses down the left.

Mean Lean’s Predicted Line Up

One to watch: Robin Van Persie

I think it is pretty obvious who the Gooners are especially looking forward to feasting their eyes on and yes that is Emmanuel Eboue. I mean we usually only come to see Eboue. This time round the Gooners will occasionally glance down the field to check if our number 10 is actually really on the pitch.

Everyone knows that Robin has supreme ability, it is now a question of fitness and sharpness. He needs to board the match fit train as the games are coming thicker and faster. I miss Robin fainting a shot on his right, cutting inside his man and then bending into the far corner on his left. Perhaps we will witness that tonight.

Man for man we will have a very good team but as ever on wholesale changes, I wonder how the team will gel together. Walcott, Bendtner and Van Persie are all lacking games and they will be required to combine and interchange as the games progresses. With our midfield perhaps missing a little spark, much of our creative influences may have to come from our forward trio.

Mean Lean’s Match Prediction

Arsenal 3 (Van Persie, Bendtner [2]), Wigan 0

Hopefully we will continue our quality football from the weekend but with some added end product in the form of Van Persie and Walcott. We should really have too much for Wigan at home as long as we apply ourselves correctly.

If the game is anything like the game last night then we should be in for a treat.