I am sure that one of the main reasons behind these particular comments from Arsene Wenger was to ensure that the Arsenal players do not fall into the age old trap of assuming that, because the opposition is from the lower leagues and everyone expects them to lose, we only have to turn up to claim victory.
That way lies potential disaster so the boss will be doing what he can to ensure that the team he sends out today to face non-league Lincoln City will be properly focused and ready to put in the effort required to avoid an FA cup giant killing.
The fact the Red Imps from Lincoln got through to the quarter-final against Arsenal by winning away at Premier League Burnley gives the Frenchman the perfect example and he was quick to reming his players of that remarkable result in the preview of the game on the Arsenal website. He is clearly worried about us taking this game for granted and increasing the already heavy pressure on his own shoulders.
Wenger said, “Of course we are under pressure. I’ve been in the FA Cup long enough to know that the odds of a favourite has nothing to do with league position. You have to turn up and perform against any team in England, otherwise you are in trouble. I personally believe that we are ready to be focused and turn up with a huge, huge motivation, or we will have a bad surprise.
“Lincoln have an audacious attitude and they are not scared to express their talent. They play in a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 system. They are absolutely dangerous with every ball and they have mastered what they do very well. They have a direct game, but they are very good on second balls too, and also technically, when they win the ball back. It’s a team who knows exactly what to do and they do it well.
“They are top of the National League and they have that recent history which is very positive. What is in favour for them is that they have done it against Burnley, so that would have certainly lifted their confidence more. That’s why we really have to be on our toes and ready to start in a strong way.”
It is not just the fact that Lincoln beat an EPL club to get here though, because Turf Moor is one of the toughest places to go and many big clubs have come away from there with nothing, so will this reminder from Wenger be enough to keep our team on the ball?
Bob.
Exactly Bob? that’s no joke to beat Burnley away,
The boys at Lincoln are getting promoted in style and there’s another ready made excuse in the bag.?
This just goes to show Wenger’s loser mentality when he worries about playing against non-league teams.? I know that we should respect all our opponents but this is beyond jokes.?
I’m sure that most Gooners are fed up with eating humble pie ??,
it’s the same old stale ?? that’s being served up, year in,year out.
Our club needs to bring in a new menu, with champagne at the top of the list.?
Sometimes, for things to get better they need to get worse first and I hope that this is that time in which we are approaching now.
The Imps to knock out the Limps, would be a good start to get this ball rolling and failure to clinch a top four finish would surely bang the final nail into that humble pie coffin. ??
Perez on the bench again. WHY?????????????????????????????
Don’t worry, if Wenger is still here, Perez will be our main striker next season lol ?
Wenger knowledge about other teams’ tactics and formations is incredible considering his cluelessness when it comes to his own team’s tactics
ARSENAL TEAM NEWS
Team to play Lincoln: Cech, Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Gibbs, Ramsey, Xhaka, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sanchez, Giroud.
Subs: Martinez, Gabriel, Monreal, Coquelin, Iwobi, Ozil, Lucas.
There’s no upset here lol ?? if we lose this, we are going to need a new stadium ??
Strong line up today. Alexis is back in midfield, I wonder if he’ll get the striker position back at all. We gave it to him and he proved himself worthy, but his attitude has come into question since. He knows he’s a number one target for anyone that’s looking for a top striker/secondary striker. Would have liked to see Perez, it really isn’t on that this dude misses out in a cup game. Wenger accommodates Ospina, which is stupid if you ask me as every club has a no1 an no2, it can change, but that’s beside the point.