Arsenal Youngsters: What Will Be Next Season's Carling Cup Team?

Already looking forward to next season, there is not too much Arsenal fans can be sure of seeing.

Will William Gallas and Emmanuel Adebayor still be at the club?

Will Arsene Wenger and the board have loosened the purse strings a bit and bring in some experienced players?

One thing however that all Gooners can be certain of is that the Carling Cup team will be once again used to blood youngsters with perhaps the odd experienced head thrown in.

Conversing with fellow Bleacher Report Gooner Deepak Israni, we decided that it was time to deviate away from transfer rumours and to have a look at just who may make up next season's Carling Cup team.

Goalkeeper

The man between the sticks could be any one of three players.

Polish international Lukasz Fabianski got numerous opportunities last season, playing in the Carling Cup and FA Cup for Arsenal up to the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively.

He also filled in for the injured Manuel Almunia in nine premier league games and three European Champions League outings.

With Fabianski now confirmed as Arsenal's number two, and having made twenty six first team appearances for the side last season, Arsene Wenger may feel it is time to look at other up and coming options.

The battle for the goalkeeping spot may come down to Italian Vito Mannone and Polish youngster Wojciech Szczesny.

Mannone signed from Atalanta in 2005 and saw his status as third choice keeper confirmed when he made his senior debut for the club in the last game of the season against Stoke, a game Arsenal won 4—1.

Meanwhile, Szczesny has had a tough time this season with injury.

In a freak accident he somehow broke his two wrists and in a horrible twist of fate, broke his big toe on his first training session back.

However, he is now back playing for the reserves and was called up to the bench for the home game against Stoke. 

He is yet to make his senior debut for Arsenal but has first team experience with his home side Legia Warsaw who played him in goal at just 15.

Defenders

So to the back four.

The left-back position looks like being a battle between Kieran Gibbs and Armand Traore.

The 19-year-old Gibbs has made a name for himself around the Emirates this season. He gave some fine performances for Arsenal as he filled in for the injured Gael Clichy which saw him play in the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and the Carling Cup.

Starting life as a left winger, Gibbs also has an eye for goal. It's a part of his game he showed with aplomb by scoring two in mid-week for the England U21 side.

Competition is sure to come in the form of Frenchman Armand Traore who spent last season on loan with Portsmouth.

Despite having Clichy and Gibbs ahead of him in the pecking order, Traore has the right mindset claiming he wants to come back to Arsenal and fight for his place.

In contrast, the right-back position may prove harder to fill. 

Despite Craig Eastmond doing reasonably well with the youths this season, it is hard to see him stepping up to the senior team so quick.

Gavin Hoyte is an option although he may find himself out on loan at a lower league club next season to get so much needed first team experience.

For this reason I expect Wenger to fill in this spot with an "old" head in Emmanuel Eboue who has seen his first team chances at right—back limited by Bacary Sagna.

The two center back spots could depend on what Arsene Wenger does in the summer transfer market.

If Gallas and Toure stay and more defensive signings are made, Johan Djourou may once again be relegated to substitute appearances and the Cups.

He may well be joined in the side by Mikael Silvestre who is not going to command a starting place in the first team.

Of course, Wenger does have the opportunity to promote the youth team duo Luke Ayling and Kyle Bartley, who worked so well together as a unit in last season's double winning team.

Harvard Nordveit is also an option although he may continue his loan spell with Lillestrom.

Young Spaniard Ignasi Miguel made the step up to the reserves last season and made two appearance and is also an option although it may be a year too soon.

Arsene Wenger does have a number of options in this area where he could also use Cameroon international Alex Song if needed.

Midfield

This area of the field has many prospects that has Arsenal fans waiting in expectation.

Perhaps the youngester that made the biggest impact last season was Jack Wilshere who is touted as the next Liam Brady.

At just 17 years of age, Wilshere has already featured eight times for the Arsenal senior side, scoring once.

He famously won Man of The Match for his performance against Sheffield United in last season's Carling Cup but was too young to accept the champagne award.

Another youngster who will expect to once again appear in the Carling Cup at the very least is Welshman Aaron Ramsey.

Arsenal fought off Manchester United to sign the ex-Cardiff man but he has found his first team chances limited this season, often finding himself on the bench.

Cardiff have seen their attempts to lure back Ramsey on loan dismissed by Arsenal, hinting at more chances next season for the young international.

Two other young players who will be yearning for a shot in the Cup sides next season are Fran Merida and Francis Coquelin.

Merida arrived at Arsenal from the Barcelona academy and indeed has been touted as the next Cesc Fabregas. He has made eight first team appearances including two as a substitute in last season's Premier League.

Coquelin meanwhile arrived from French side Laval last summer and has made an immediate impact in the youth side, often dominating midfield in games. It is suggested he may be Arsenal's answer to a tough defensive midfielder in the next few years.

The options continue in midfield for Arsenal with Henri Lansbury who spent most of last season on loan with promotion winning Scunthorpe and it must be said he came back a better player following his spell away from the club.

Then there is current U18s Jay Emmanuel-Thomas who muscular appearance belies his youth.

Two others who may have a shout of a look-in are Englishmen Mark Randall who rarely lives up to his promise and free shooting Emmanuel Frimpong.

All in all options a plenty in midfield.

Forwards

Again this is an area that could be affected by what Arsenal do in the transfer market.

Emmanuel Adebayor staying or going may affect whether Nicklas Bendtner is fully promoted to the first team or is once again making numerous appearances for the first team but also a starter for the Carling Cup team.

Realistically, I can envision Bendtner playing no part in next season's Carling Cup with Wenger instead giving opportunities to more youngsters.

One who is certain to start is Mexican Carlos Vela who delighted Arsenal fans with his chipped goals to date.

He has the real making of a star of the future but needs to get more playing time under his belt. Although he can play on the left wing, I can see him been pushed up front next season in the Carling Cup at least.

His partner up front could be Jay Simpson who is returning from his loan spell at West Bromwich Albion. Again this depends on whether Simpson is happy with making limited first team appearances or whether he will go back out on loan or indeed look for a first team spot elsewhere.

Other options open to Wenger are the three youth players Sanchez Watt, Gilles Sunu and Rhys Murphy who all impressed at various stages last season in the underage teams.

There is even the slightest possibility that Wenger may use the first round of the Carling Cup games to see if Theo Walcott can play as a striker in the Thierry Henry mould. A small chance but a chance nonetheless.

Possible Squad

All things considered, here is what I venture may be next season's Carling Cup team.

                                      Mannone

        Eboue (C)        Djourou         Song         Gibbs

                                     Coquelin

               Wilshere           Ramsey         Merida

                             Simpson      Vela

Subs:Szczesny, Traore, Ayling, Randall, Emmanuel-Thomas, Lansbury, Sunu

Of course all this may change drastically but hey its better than reading another transfer window article isn't it?