A match Arsenal MUST win or face the consequences
In just over five hours’ time Arsenal take to the field against Lincoln City in the FA Cup quarter-final.
Having been mauled by Bayern Munich in midweek, drifting 16 points behind Chelsea with a massive struggle ahead to finish in the top four, Lincoln City at the Emirates is a game that what must be a jittery game Arsenal dare not lose.
Lincoln themselves, having knocked out Burnley on their own patch in the fifth round, will feel that this is a great time to play Arsenal, who are in some sort of turmoil within themselves as fans continue to call for Arsene Wenger's head. Losing to Lincoln will most definitely take the flames to firestorm level. Wenger must not take them lightly and put out his top team. Lincoln have nothing to lose as they are expected to lose, with all the pressure being on Arsenal. Lincoln have also been training at West Ham, which will have given them some sort of pacing experience for the tie.
Admittedly, Wenger has a brilliant record in this competition and for that he must be extremely respected, nobody in modern history as a manager have ever won it more than him, so credit where credit is due.
However, a warning exists in the exit to Watford at the Emirates Stadium last season at the same stage of the competition at a point when Arsenal were at the time on a historical roll of being able to win three FA Cups in a row, and expected to win.
Despite the F.A. Cup being disrespected by many teams fielding 'weakened' teams, it remains the only competition where a team who wins it remains totally 'unbeaten'. Its history is incomparable, it's magic is legendary and the winners are true 'champions'.
On a further note, if you want to do the 'double' you have to win the FA Cup. If you want to do the 'treble' you have to win the FA Cup. Contrary to some popular belief, the FA is a prestigious piece of silverware and winning it means that the season has some sort of success as when you start out the season it is one of just four pieces of silverware (if playing in Europe) that a club can win.
For a club like Arsenal, the FA Cup may not be considered as big a prize as what they should be winning, but let's face it, at the moment we are way, way behind in both the Champions League and Premier League, with the League Cup never being taken too seriously. The subject of finishing fourth is a completely different matter. Some fans would rather finish fourth than win the FA Cup, but I am completely the opposite. I would rather win the FA Cup than finish fourth, I really would.
To the fans who are extremely pro-Wenger-out, and worry that winning the FA Cup may just be the thing that saves him with the reward of signing a new contract I would say let's get behind the team for the FA Cup, and think about the history of the club.
Arsenal cannot afford not to take winning silverware seriously simply because the fans may think that it will save the manager.
The trophy count history of the club is severely under threat of shortly being placed into fourth place by Chelsea (who are hunting their second 'double’). Arsenal are currently in third place domestically (after Liverpool and Manchester United) and winning the FA Cup this season will make them the most successful club in the competition once again. This is why Wenger should win it and go out as the most successful manager ever in the history of the competition as well. This would be a fitting end to his reign.
Unthinkably, should Arsenal lose to Lincoln today, the banners and knives will again be out for Wenger, and he should announce his exit at the end of the season in a press conference, with PSG. waiting to welcome him with open arms.
We await the outcome of the match. Roll on 5.30pm.