Arsenal still have a very big hurdle of our own to jump in the FA cup tomorrow, with the visitors Middlesborough in really ominous form and having the same sort of strong defensive set-up and counter attacking style that has hurt Arsenal so often in recent years.
But after them beating Man City in the last round was just one of many cup upsets, at least there is little chance that the Gunners will be caught with our pants down. And as long as Arsene Wenger and the lads do avoid this banana skin and get through to the next round, the amount of big clubs that will be missing from the quarter-final draw gives us a really great chance of retaining the famous old trophy for just the second time in our history.
Another win at Wembley in May would also make Arsenal the most successful club in the competition, an honour we currently share with Manchester United. It would also make Arsene Wenger the joint most successful manager in the FA cup by giving him a sixth success to match the achievement of George Ramsay of Aston Villa nearly 100 years ago.
So the manager and club will have been delighted to see another big obstacle removed today. I am not talking about West Ham who were thrashed by West Brom. I am talking about Stoke City who were knocked out by Championship club Blackburn Rovers, who did the same to us a couple of years ago.
As I looked at the possible draws Arsenal could get in the quarters, assuming we get there, an away tie with Stoke was a massive worry and now we know that will not happen. I would rather get Man United or Liverpool than Stoke away because we always lose at the Britannia.
Now let’s make the most of our good fortune and see off Middlesborough. Is another Wembley final written in the stars for the Gunners?