Fourth Beckons For Arsenal

So that’s it. We’re there. The FA Cup final. We didn’t make an easy job of it against Wigan and the performance, considering the league standing of the opposition, has led to a bit of vituperation towards Arsenal – and unfairly in my opinion.

The important thing to remember is this is a Wigan side who dispatched of one of the best sides in the league with an embarrassment of riches on the field, on the bench and in the bank. Twice. Technically, Wigan are still unbeaten in the FA Cup in two years and despite being relegated last year they are no mugs. Over 38 games they might not have had what it took to stay in the league but when it comes to the FA Cup they are an incredibly hard team to beat.

They have been the familiar Spurs of the North in recent years (except reasonably likeable). Crap in the league but good in the cup. On paper we should have beaten them in normal time but on paper Man City should have been facing us in the semis and should have won the cup last season. As the erudite (sarcasm) Andy Gray used to growl on various FIFA games “the game isn’t played on paper, it’s played on that green thing out there”.

Arsenal haven’t exactly had an easy route to the final; needing to beat previous FA Cup winners in every single round, including the holders, as well as three top 8 Premier League sides.

Now, looking forward to the next match can retrospectively give you reason to bemoan Arsenal’s tight victory over Wigan as performances like that could just as easily rip Europa League football from our grasps let alone Champions League football. However, I think cup football often has to be taken on its own merit. Often it can act as a catalyst for good feelings in the stadium and at the training ground but losses can also be brushed off as usually Arsenal have played a weakened team.

A Tuesday night match against a Sam Allardyce team after 120 minutes of football on a Saturday is not something to be relished but it does give Arsenal the chance to reclaim fourth spot and refuse to relinquish it. Everton are going to be much sterner competition than the perennial chokers from up the road for a top four place but the run in is on Arsenal’s side.

It is easy to overlook the fact Everton’s game in hand on us is Man City when they beat us so comprehensively last week but the capricious nature of this league this season was demonstrated at Sunderland where Everton required a fortunate own goal to seal the win. As much as our performance against Wigan will not be good enough against Premier League opposition neither will Everton’s against Sunderland be enough to see off the likes of City.

Allardyce will set up his side to be extremely physical with us from the off in the hope their greater energy levels and far less depleted squad will be able to tire ours out enough to nick a win or at least take a draw. Nothing but a win will do for Arsenal so it is important that they either put the game to bed early or resist West Ham’s advances for long enough to take the game late on. The former requires a clinical and ruthless touch we have lacked for a while now but one Arsenal will need to summon from somewhere in order to clinch the three points. The latter requires energy Arsenal possibly do not have and is too much of a risk.

If Arsenal can put a lid on their erratic passing of late and show some quality in the first touch then they should be able to win this game despite the depleted energy reserves.

Fourth spot may not be entirely in Arsenal’s hands but it beckons to them like an old flame’s name flashing up on your mobile at 2am in the morning. Fourth wants one last booty call from Arsenal before they undoubtedly make advances towards more comely and attractive positions and I’m pretty sure Arsenal are going to answer that call.

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