Perhaps because Arsenal fans see the FA cup as the most likely competition for the club to win another trophy in this season has made us focus on it. And the fact that our away tie with Manchester United is clearly the glamour tie of the quarter-final stage and then has had even more media focus placed on it by the infuriating decision by the BBC to schedule it for Monday night has added to that.
But it is time for the focus to fall firmly on the Premier League game this weekend because it really is a must win match for Arsenal. I know that there are 13 games left to play as we try to secure Champions League football yet again but we simply cannot afford any more slip-ups, especially against teams that we are expected to beat.
The Gunners should have too much for Crystal Palace even though we are away from home but only if we are fully focused on the game and are not looking ahead to the midweek UCL game with Monaco or the Man United clash. Palace have improved under Alan Pardew and have beaten Tottenham and Southampton since he took over.
They are also likely to have the boost of getting their captain Miles Jedinak back from injury and will be rested and refreshed and ready to make life difficult for us. So get your heads on the game Gunners because anything other than a win will not be enough. Arsenal won’t mess this up will we?
Out of these 2 which do you prefer?
Thumbs Up: FA Cup win but finish out of Top 4
Thumbs down: No trophy but finish in Top 4
I have not thumbed your comment. Cause I really want to retain the FA cup and a top 4 finish. Top 3 to be precise. hate the CL qualifiers.
Anything short of victory at Selhurst Park is not acceptable for the gunners mindbearing that this game will/might leave Arsenal firmly on the 3rd position after all rival teams have played. S’ton vs Liverpool (draw), Swansea vs ManU (0-1 Swansea), Spuds vs west harm (outcome doesn’t matter provided Arsenal wins but a draw/loose will keep the spuds out of contention).
Those who are scared of Arsenal loosing to ManU at the FA cup should be rest assured that Arsenal will come out victorious either at OT or at the Emirates on a reply. Mark my words.
Crystal Palace away is a difficult game to win, we struggled there last season despite being in amazing form and top of the league, whilst Palace were really struggling. This season we go there in worse shape, it’ll be a tough game. Hopefully they suffer from Pardew’s leaky defences when playing Arsenal.
Thumbs up for Luis Figo as President!
OT,
Anyone truly believe Wenger will splash nearly 40M for Jackson Martinez? I know the dude is a goal scoring machine, but he’s 28 and plays in the Portuguese league.
Dybala or Lacazette please
Wilshere has declared himself fit to face Crystal Palace!
Move aside Ozil!
Obviously, well @ least for the first 45 until he inevitably holds on to the ball far to long and suffers ANOTHER avoidable ankle injury.
Thirteen games is not allot, and its certainly not enough if we dont get our act together showing some consistency. We had a good opportunity to get a foothold but mucked it up against spu sou, we really need to start playing like a top four club and stop this tit for tat with the europa clubs.
With any luck we’ll move into the top 4 this weekend. Southampton are playing Liverpool so should hopefully drop points. That’ll put us in 4th place if we beat Palace. Once we’re in the top four, we should hopefully be able to stay there. Dropping out of the top 4 should hopefully demoralise Southampton.
Manchester United are away to Swansea, a game they should win but it’s certainly concievable that they drop points too.
I’m a little concerned looking behind us though, Liverpool are gathering momentum. Hopefully they’ll draw with Southampton so we can gain 2 points on both of them. Plus they have to play in the Europa league now, so hopefully that’ll disrupt them. We cannot afford to lose out on the Champions League next season, we have to finish in the top 4.
I do share your concern with Liverpool’s ascending form of recent date, however they do have Southhampton and Oil City the next two fixtures and showdowns on the horizon with MU, Arsenal and Chelsea. Sprinkle in deep runs in both the Europa and FA cup competitions and I think there charge will be somewhat muted by the end of the year.
OT: Must say I wasn’t overly impressed with Real Madrid yesterday other than Marcello’s moment of brilliance. Thought Schalke deserved better
We do still have a few tough games ourselves though. Everton won’t be easy, neither will Liverpool or Chelsea. Fortunately those games are at home though. United away is our only big away fixture left. I think we have an easier run-in than our rivals, but of course we still have to go and win the points!
Our fixture list is nothing to overlook and the games you mentioned will be indeed difficult. I think Arsenal will beat Liverpool and even Chelsea @ home, and probably draw away @ MU. Its the away games @ Burnley, QPR and even Newcastle that are worrisome to me.
It’s going to be tough to get a top four place and the FA cup, and if pushed I would prefer to concentrate on the league. A very tight one this season so we will have to be on very good form for the next dozen games or so.
If we can get past Man U I fancy us to retain the cup, but not at the expense of the league…