It’s the Carling Cup semi-final second legs this week, which could mean a nice run out for the premierships reserve youth teams. However, looking at the current scorelines in the ties, I expect that this will not be the case (for a change).
Arsenal vs Wigan (Aggregate 0-1) Tuesday Night
After losing to Everton on Saturday, and already trailing to Wigan, I’m sure that Arsene Wenger will pick a relatively strong team (this could be Arsenal’s only chance of silverware, they are certainly out of contention for the league). I find it virtually impossible to predict how Paul Jewell’s Wigan are going to perform, they are having an amazing season overall, but sometimes they can be awful.
My Prediction: Arsenal to go through, I don’t see Wigan’s solitary goal lead being enough, especially at Highbury.
Manchester United vs Blackburn (Aggregate 1-1) Wednesday Night
I think that this is the more interesting of the weeks ties, with both teams having come away with close victories in the weekends fixtures. Blackburn have already won at Old Trafford this season, and will be hoping to repeat that success again, and with Morten Gamst Pedersen having a superb season, they have every chance to do so. After beating liverpool at the death on saturday, Sir Alex will be hoping for the momentum to continue here, however he will want his strikers, especially van Nistelrooy to perform better than against Liverpool.
My Prediction: This game could go either way, if United play a strong team though, I can see them comfortably winning, but if they only play a scratch team then Blackburn could capitalise. If I have to choose though, it would be United.
So from these predictions I forsee a United vs Arsenal final, if so, let’s hope it isn’t as boring as when they met last May for the FA Cup final.