Cesc Fabregas insists Arsenal should anticipate a 'dangerous' Carling Cup clash against Ipswich.
Skipper warns Gunners not to underestimate Tractor Boys
Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas insists the Gunners should anticipate a 'dangerous' Carling Cup clash against Ipswich on Wednesday.
Manager Arsene Wenger will field a rotated line-up in the first leg of the semi-final at Portman Road, but the Premier League side are still odds-on favourites to dispose of the Tractor Boys, who appointed manager Paul Jewell as successor to Roy Keane on Monday.
However, Fabregas feels the Gunners should be wary of the Championship club, who will be seeking a major cup upset to compensate for their league woes.
Dangerous
"Although Ipswich are a Championship team, that can make them even more dangerous," he said.
"Their motivation will be very high - these will be the biggest two games of their year.
"They will be desperate to beat us, they will want to show their strengths, and their motivation will be as high as possible.
"If we want to get through we will have to match that motivation, if not raise it further."
Fabregas, who could be on the bench on Wednesday night, is not the only player urging against complacency, with team-mate Wojciech Szczesny also firing a warning to the London club.
"The thing about the cups is that you can play a struggling team who are having a fantastic run in the competition," said the goalkeeper, who is likely to start on Wednesday.
"The cup is always different in nature.
"You know that teams likes Ipswich will have a big buzz, they will go for it.
"They will be good games and we just need to make sure that we win them."
Arsenal, who drew 1-1 with Leeds in the third-round of the FA Cup at the weekend, are looking to end a five-year wait for silverware this season.
But manager Wenger insists his team will focus only on the job in hand on Wednesday.
Influence
"That we have not won a trophy for five years will not have a big influence on the match against Ipswich," he said.
"What will have a big influence on us is that we are two games away from the final, and we want to go there.
"We will be highly motivated to do it.
"We will go to Ipswich to do the job well and to turn up with a better performance than on Saturday."
