Arsenal v Swansea; FA Cup Match Preview
All it takes is a good run. A good run in any competition can build confidence for runs in other competitions. Conversely, as was shown two years ago, bad results can have devestating effects. That is why Arsenal need to approach today’s FA Cup tie with Swansea with all the seriousness and focus it requires.
The last cup Arsenal won is quite known to all supporters – the 2005 FA Cup. It was our last bit of silverware and it is the starting point for the decline and barren years that have followed. But it is in my opinion the only realistic chance at silveware the club have this year. The Premier League looks all but out of reach and unless Arsenal can pull off a Chelsea-like miracle the Champion’s League isn’t in the offing.
That means it has to be the FA Cup.
Whether or not Wenger is taking this tie seriously will be shown the instant the lineup is announced. While some rotation is warranted, with the next game a full week away, if there is a focus on this tournament than you can expect the lineup to have very little in the way of changes from the last Premier League match.
Additionally, it’s very unlikely that Arsenal will underestimate their opponent for a second time. When Swansea came into the Emirates and beat Arsenal at their own game one or two players admitted the took their opponent for granted. The two goals scored by Michu and the embarassing way the Gunners lost that match should end that.
The boss isn’t one to be taking them lightly that much is for sure:
“They are a team who have already shown last year they have a good technical level, that they can adapt,” said Wenger. “They have coped very quickly with the Premier League and they tend to buy well as they’ve shown again this season with players like Michu.
“They lost Brendan Rodgers in the summer but they took Laudrup who is doing very well. Before him, they had Roberto Martinez, so they always find the right guy to replace the manager who is leaving.
“They have made intelligent decisions. Therefore they deserve a lot of credit.”
But fortune may be on Arsenal’s side. Swansea have not been looking like the squad that raided the Emirates and have been more erratic since that win. Additionally, the Welsh side might have their eyes affixed to there Capital One Cup tie with Chelsea this coming Wednesday. With a real shot at a Wemble showdown, who knows how Swansea may approach this competition.
But that is neither here nor there. It is all up to Arsenal. If Arsenal come off the bus and play the way have when they have been successful, then Swansea should pose little threat. If they come out and play like they did against Swansea and Southampton then the likelihood is enhanced that Arsenal will endure its 8th trophyless season.
And frankly this is a cup we should want to win because it has held so many memories for us. Who can forget 1979 and Alan Sunderland’s 89th minute beauty or Andy Linighan in 1993 or more recently that Vieira penalty that beat Roy Carroll for our last taste of glory? The FA Cup is a that we should value its so much a part of Arsenal’s history. Only Manchester United have won more FA Cups than Arsenal (11 v 10) and only United have featured in more FA Cup finals than Arsenal (18 v 17).
I get the priorties of the club. But given the effect of winning anything can have on a club, a fan base and a organization in whole – Arsenal have to go for it. Look at what it has done for other teams recently. One year after winning the FA Cup, Manchester City went on to win the Premier League. Last year Chelsea used the FA Cup as the catapult for their unthinkable Champion’s League win. Winning begets winning.
Don’t let down in this match. Go full throttle. If you do and you lose, no fault can be had. But to come in and play with complacency, we’ll find fault with that every day.
It’s all about the glory, its all about winning.
Projected Lineups:
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OK, finally back home but still on European time so the early kickoff was perfect. Arsenal looked up for it early but slowly looked to tire of possession and misguided pressing (Santi and Giroud chase but look far from excited about it….) and Swansea came into the match. Sub on Michu and, boom, we’re chasing the game.
But we did it, finally scoring the two goals we needed! Did anybody notice that it was coincident with our ONLY sub, Poldolski, coming on for Ramsey? I’m not overly concerned about the (standard) poor performance Ramsey had, rather the fact that we’re a 12 man squad. We can’t sub Theo because we’re in negotiations with him. We can’t sub Giroud because then Theo plays up top and AW has no (real) faith in that idea. We can’t sub Santi because he might make something out of nothing and Jack, I guess, might also. The squad is as healthy as ever (or is it?) yet we run our boys into the ground….
It all speaks to little or no faith in the bench players. Why no Rosicky? Why no Ox? Why no Coquelin. Killing a bit of time by bringing him in after we got the 2nd goal (or maybe Santos or Jenkinson to play in front of the other fullbacks) might’ve prevented the general confusion that led to the corner that delivered the equalizer….
But these things happen and you can argue that sticking with everybody (except Ramsey) “worked” and it was “genius” to leave Giroud on for his sublime pass to Gibbs. The bottom line is that the manager needed this result and we’ve got too many players who either aren’t physically ready (Rosicky, probably) or are in a development stage and should only get “safe” minutes (i.e., Ramsey and the 70 minutes he got today). Add that to the unbelievable suggestion (post match) that Ramsey should have been given a penalty (when he really should’ve gotten a red card for appealing) his self-inflicted trip, and Arsene’s tinted glasses appear to be full on blinders.
The lying needs to stop. The simply being wrong needs to stop as well. For me it’s not about the result. I actually think another match with Swansea, who play a clean game, is a challenge that is needed and (I think) it will kick the West Ham make up game down the road a bit (or maybe their late draw already did that….) The squad is weak, we need reinforcements who the manager actually trusts. We need honesty and an honest chance in our various competitions. With this tiny squad we will not make 4th, we will not give Bayern a match over two legs and we will not get anywhere in the FA cup. Kicking down an extra million per year to Theo does not solve our problems even if it makes everybody warm inside. We need bodies who can contribute now and help win matches. If it doesn’t happen AND the supporters get another round of un-truths (is Diaby on the bench our next “big boost”?….Is Martinez truly the keeper to back-up, and challenge, Sneezy?) the supporters will turn that much quicker. A home replay with Swansea seems managable, as does a make-up match with West Ham. Something needs to happen soon (Theo signing, transfers in, winning vs City) or things could unravel mighty quick….
So, back to plan A: Hope…..
If Arsenal play their usual game of pass and pass in front of a massed defence and the defence goes to sleep as in the Newcastle game, they will lose. I have no doubt about that.For confirmation look at the past Arsenal games on You Tube.
I know they scored 5 against Reading and 7 vs Newcastle. Bear in mind Reading are abottom of the table team. Like wise NU had many injuries and were probably weary after a mid week match with red faced.
Swansea are a different propostion.Ladrup is a pragmatic guy who plays to win. Arsene wants to play to the gallery and win which is tougher. Why not win ugly?As for you score one Iscore two,Wenger shd look at how QPR beat Chelsea.Who cares if Chesea had 99% possession and 100 shots at goal. If you don’t score,you lose.
I love the FA Cup. I love watching the “minnows” playing in their tiny stadiums, trying to take down Goliath…
I think Swansea is going to send us packing… I don’t think Wenger gives a shite about the FA Cup, and as we’ve discussed over the past few threads… if the Club doesn’t care about “WINNING”… why would the players? It translates directly to many of our lackluster performances on the pitch…
2-0 Swans…