You didn´t really believe that Arsenal´s luck had changed did you? A couple of decent FA cup draws against teams from a lower division, as well as the Gunners getting the pick of the group winners from the Champions League in Monaco were as welcome as they were unusual for us. But it was back to business as usual yesterday.
Not only did Arsenal get the toughest draw on paper, with Manchester United being the top ranked team still in the cup competition, but the tie is to be played at Old Trafford and you don’t need me to tell you that Arsenal have had a few issues with big away games in recent years.
That record looks even worse when you look at clashes between the two clubs. They have beaten us at the Emirates already this season, although they needed the luck of the Irish and the devil combined. And the last time we beat United was in May of 2011.
And it gets worse again when you look at games between us at Old Trafford. It is not just that we have failed to win there since September 2007. Arsenal have lost the last six games away to Man United, including a 2-0 loss in the FA cup. It was 2009 when we last avoided defeat.
But enough negativity, because records are there to be broken. The Gunners have already broken our big away game run this season, with a win at Man City and a draw with Liverpool at Anfield. So with United being pretty poor despite their results, Arsenal must go there with the belief that we can finally come away from Old Trafford with at least a draw.
And it is so important that we really go for it and play well next weekend, not just to keep our hopes of retaining the famous old trophy alive. Our penultimate Premier League game is away to Man United and the way the fight for the top four is shaping up, that game could make all the difference. So we need to be able to go there with belief.
Go get `em Gunners!
