Fleetwood Town boss Matt Lawlor spoke before his side's Carabao Cup home game against Arsenal, with the Premier League champions due at Highbury Stadium on Tuesday. Fleetwood are preparing for a sold-out occasion.
Uncertainty over Arsenal selection
Lawlor said there is little certainty over the side Mikel Arteta will select. He said: "We don’t have a clue how they’re going to line up. It’s educated guesswork. We’re preparing for a world-class team regardless of who they put out."
Respect without fear
Lawlor said Fleetwood are preparing for Arsenal rather than individuals. He said: "We’re preparing for Arsenal rather than individuals. I can’t have any more respect for someone who has done what Mikel has done."
He also urged his players to enjoy the occasion rather than be intimidated by the prospect of facing the Premier League champions. Lawlor said: "The champions are coming to town and they’re coming to our patch. The players need to be excited by it, not overawed by it. The respect is through the roof, but the fear can’t be through the roof."
Fleetwood's cup run
Lawlor said Fleetwood have had to come through a series of difficult ties to reach this stage. He said: "We’ve had to go through round upon round of tough games, and none of them were easy."