Arsenal have only won the league cup twice
The club really couldn't give a shit about the competition
Honestly, it's hard to argue. I mean Wenger & Sir Alex i think were among the first to use the competition to blood youngsters. It's not quite the same now, with it being more 1st team fringe players given a shout, so when you get knocked out it's difficult to assess.
However, for me i still get disappointed being knocked out, simply because i don't like seeing me team get beat. You also don't want to watch performances as flat as we were last night, it's never good. Then you analyse it, and you start to question certain members of the squad, players you think should be using the game to really stake a claim for more regular starts, guys like Vieira, Nelson, Trossard etc, and no-one really did.
These type of players can deliver in moments, and i'll throw in Nketiah to that as well, players that seem to play in spurts, but when you are looking for them to kick on and show consistency and show that they can be relied upon, it just never quite happens. Added in the regular first teamers that did play, the likes of White, Gabriel & Zinchenko were poor as well, was just a poor night all in.
Credit to West Ham, they done well, but i don't think they really had to play really well to beat us which is the frustrating thing. I thought it was pretty even first half, thought Ramsdale was fouled on the goal and i can't remember West Ham actually having a shot first half, but when you are looking for a response 2nd half they way we came out that 15mins after half time was poor and we lost the game from there.
Not sure it will have any bearing on the game at the weekend given the changes, but either way that's going to be a very tough game. Not going into that over confident lets say.