We’re Gunner break down Tractor Boys, says Szczesny

WOJCIECH SZCZESNY has warned Ipswich they can park the bus or as many tractors as they want in front of goal at Emirates Stadium tonight, but eventually Arsenal will break them down and reach the Carling Cup final.

Ipswich are set to defend a slender 1-0 advantage from the first leg at Portman Road a fortnight ago after a below-par Gunners were beaten by Tamas Priskin’s second-half strike.

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, who had likened the Tractor Boys’ approach to a long-ball “rugby” style, maintains it will be a completely different game when they met again at the Emirates Stadium for the right to go to Wembley.

Town defender Damien Delaney openly admits Paul Jewell’s men will do all they can to hang onto their lead, claiming “we will go and park the bus in front of the goal at the Emirates, like Jose Mourinho said”.

But Gunners goalkeeper Szczesny insists those tactics will result in a comprehensive defeat in the end.

“We have a team from the Championship coming to the Emirates and they probably won’t fancy it too much, but we fancy our chances and are confident we will go through,” said the young Pole, who has impressed after taking his chance in goal.

“We are Arsenal and believe we can beat anybody.”

Szczesny added: “They have a one-goal advantage which they will try to defend, but as soon as we score the first goal, it will be downhill for them.

“We just have to break them down and score as many goals as we can. We are confident we can turn this around.”

Wenger will again rotate his starting XI, with those among the substitutes in the weekend win over Wigan on Saturday — like Kieran Gibbs, Emmanuel Eboue, Denilson, Andrey Arshavin, Nicklas Bendtner and Marouane Chamakh — all probably set to feature, while there could yet be a debut for young Spanish centre-back Ignasi Miquel.

“It is a busy schedule of league and cup football, but we are happy to be playing the games,” said the Arsenal boss.

“I feel everybody knows that he has a part to play, and I feel lucky to have 25 players of top quality.

“We can rotate our squad and because these players have played together for a long time, you don’t notice the changes — everyone plays on the same wavelength.”

For his part, Ipswich manager Jewell remains confident of keeping hold of captain David Norris as he attempts to lead his side to the Carling Cup final.

While a date at Wembley appeals, Jewell’s main concern is securing midfielder Norris. The former Plymouth man is one of 21 players out of contract during the summer and has been linked with a move to Portsmouth.

But Jewell has scuppered any talk of an immediate move and knows that the lure of a showpiece Wembley final could be enough to keep the likes of Norris until the end of the season at least.

Jewell said: “David Norris hasn’t told me he wants to join Portsmouth.

“I will be sitting down later in the week with some of the players out of contract this summer.

“I want to keep our better players but if people, young or old, do not want to be here, they can move on.

“But David Norris has definitely not intimated to me that he wants to leave.’’