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?