The EFL Cup is down to the last 16 teams, the bigger match ups takes place on Wednesday and we focus on West Ham vs Arsenal and Manchester United vs Newcastle
West Ham 23/10 Draw 5/2 Arsenal 1.17/1
West Ham entered the competition in the previous round when they made wholesale changes for a trip to Lincoln and came away with a 1-0 win. They come into this game on the back of 3 straight defeats, in the EPL away to Villa (4-1) and at home to Everton (1-0) and in between those matches they lost a Europa League group match at Olympiacos 2-1.
Arsenal have also played just the one match so far and they booked a last 16 place with a 1-0 victory away to Brentford. Arsenal remain unbeaten in the EPL this season with 7 wins and 3 draws and are 2 points off the pace being set by Spurs. Their only loss this season came in the Champions League 2-1 at Lens but they did win 2 other group matches and look well set to progress to the knockout rounds.
The Verdict
We can expect changes for both sides but I take the view Arsenal have much more depth in their resources. They rested a couple of regulars for last weekend's 5-0 home win over Sheffield United and those that come in have generally stepped up.
Arsenal on the board for me here.
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Man United 1.17/1 Draw 2.46/1 Newcastle 2.33/1
This a repeat of last season's final which United won 2-0 at Wembley and they began their defence of the trophy with a comfortable 3-0 home win over Palace in the previous round. EPL form is erratic and a 3-0 home defeat in the derby with City last Sunday gave them a record of 5 wins and 5 defeats and they are just above halfway in the standings. United also face a tough task to qualify from their UCL group after 1 win and 2 defeats.
Newcastle edged out Manchester City 1-0 at St. James Park in their first action of the competition, a game where both sides made plenty of changes to their normal starting line ups. Newcastle are sixth in the EPL standings and are also in the thick of the fight to make it out of the toughest of the Champions League groups where they have taken 4 points from 3 matches and qualification looks set to go down to the wire. Newcastle host Arsenal in the EPL at the weekend then go to to Dortmund who beat them in a home game last week in the UCL so it's a tough few days and they are missing a few players through injury.
The Verdict
This looks a really tough call (especially in the absence of the team sheets) with United finishing the derby in disarray and Newcastle, hit by injuries and quite possible looking ahead to Arsenal and Dortmund.
I wouldn't be throwing much at the match result but when United really seemingly hit a low ebb Ten Hag often finds a result and the home side get a tentative vote.
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