LONDON – Arsene Wenger knows the League Cup represents his best chance of ending Arsenal’s six-year wait for a trophy. And ahead of the first leg of the semi-final against Ipswich, who are struggling in the Championship, Wenger is adamant he will treat the competition more seriously than he has ever done when the Gunners travel to Portman Road on Wednesday.
Arsenal are 180 minutes from a Wembley final and are up against a team that lost by seven goals to Chelsea in the FA Cup on Sunday. Ipswich will also be under the management of caretaker Ian McParland, who oversaw the Chelsea defeat, despite ex-Derby and Wigan boss Paul Jewell being named Monday as the successor to Roy Keane,
who was sacked last week. But Gunners manager Wenger is still oncerned over his lack of personnel. He lost Sebastien Squillaci during Saturday’s 1-1 FA Cup draw with Leeds, leaving the French boss with just two centre-backs at his disposal. Arsenal have welcomed back Thierry Henry, albeit only so their former striker can keep fit in the Major League Soccer off-season.
