Sunday February 17, 2008
Posted in:
Football
Last night was awful, but predictable.
Arsene Wenger had sent out mixed signals on the eve of the FA Cup tie with Manchester United – on one hand, careful to rest key players with minor knocks, on the other asking for Arsenal to show their title credentials by winning the cup game. Well, I think we know a bit more about the latter now.
Unlike Tottenham in the Carling Cup, this wasn’t a mugging. Manchester United comprehensively outplayed Arsenal in every respect. The team sheets might have suggested an even game, but this was nothing of the sort. Arsenal could easily have lost by eight had United taken more of the endless chances they created, often abetted by some of the worst Arsenal defending I’ve seen for years. It was a gutless performance from a team that gave up. Only Lehmann, despite conceeding four and kicking dreadfully, emerged with any credit for keeping the score down.
Last night’s performance will have hurt Wenger. Whatever the press say, the FA Cup really matters to Wenger and to Arsenal and it has given us some of our happiest memories in the last ten years. Going out in this fashion puts an awful lot more pressure on Wednesday night’s Champions League game at home to Milan, which now takes on even greater significance.
Let’s be clear, unlike Benitez at Liverpool, Wenger is under no pressure whatsoever from Arsenal’s board or fans – nor should he be – but having gone out of two cup competitions in dismal fashion, we need to sustain a challenge in the Premiership and in the Champions League. That’s not to say Arsenal should expect to win either, but we should expect a determination to make sure we fight right to the end in both.
And so to Wednesday. I was one of those delighted when we drew Milan as I’m convinced their style is perfectly suited for Arsenal. Having responded well to the Tottenham debacle, I’m hoping – no, expecting – that Wednesday will be the day when Arsenal take the game to Milan and remind people what the real Arsenal looks like.
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