Arsenal fans will be hoping that the bookies have got this one right, as the men whose job it is to predict the most likely outcomes have installed the Gunners as favourites to win the FA cup again in May, retaining the trophy that we won last year at Wembley to end the nine year wait for silverware.
The Gunners bucked the trend of the weekend by managing to overcome lower league opposition in the fourth round, although it was a bit nerve wracking at times. I said before the game that Iwould be happy with a draw which would see Brighton have to come to the Emirates, but a clean win is obviously much better and makes Arsenal the highest ranking side certain to be playing in the next round.
Man United and Liverpool are now our two biggest rivals for the trophy but they both have replays to get through and we have a clear reminder this weekend that these cup clashes can easily go against the odds. So what do Arsenal need to do to make sure that Arsene Wenger becomes the most successful FA cup manager of modern times by winning a 6th?
Focus and concentration in each round is vital and the players are really starting to remove any doubt that they have that issue under control. The draws are important as well, even though we had many tough games on the road to Wembley last season. Keeping our squad injury free as much as possible is a major factor in my opinion but I wonder if the taste for silverware that the players got last season will prove to be the really telling factor. What do you think?