Arsene Wenger will be very glad that Arsenal managed to beat Manchester United in the FA cup quarter-final at the first go, even though we would happily have taken a draw before turning up at Old Trafford. If we had drawn though, it might have meant Arsenal having to play the replay next week, as Liverpool are having to do.
Brendan Rodgers has to take his team to Ewood Park to face Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday, just a few days after coming to the Emirates in the Premier League. I am not suggesting that he will field a weaker team with that FA cup replay in mind, as securing a Champions League place is more important to Liverpool (he would love the top four to be called the Rodgers trophy believe me).
But if Arsenal play at a high tempo and give them a really tough game, and especially if we knock their confidence further by inflicting a second defeat in a row, it could have consequences for them against Blackburn. The Championship club are well safe but have no real chance of the play-offs so will probably rest key players and go easy against Leeds on Saturday. And their team is not stacked with internationals either so they should should be fitter and fresher than Liverpool, while also having home advantage.
Arsenal would still have to get past Reading and win the final of course, but there is no doubt that Liverpool going out would make another trophy a lot more likely.
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