Match Preview: Arsenal v Coventry City; Gunners hope to advance on a Friday Night Delight
I have a confession to make – like Arsene Wenger, I know very little about Coventry City.
I do know that during today’s FA Cup tie, Coventry will hold up placards with 31 at the 31st minute to denote the number of miles they need to travel now that they play away from their traditional home. Additionally, the will also salute one of their own later in the match. During both moments, Arsenal supporters are being asked to support the visitors with applause. Knowing the class of our fans – it will undoubtedly happen.
So what to make of this tie? It’s kind of hard to determine anything about the opponents as I’ve not seen them play. However, given the level of disparity between the two clubs its hard to look past anything but an Arsenal win.
However, before we get all excited about that let’s remember last season’s Capital One Cup ties against Bradford City and the FA Cup knockout to Blackburn. Both matches Arsenal should have won going away. But for whatever reason – underestimating the opponent, laziness or the opponent wanting it more – we lost. Fair games to our opponents they did what they had to do and we didn’t.
But it’s a year on and this is an Arsenal side that looks intent on taking care of business. There are very few if any of the abjectly dull performances this season like we saw in those ties last year. Arsenal even when they are not at their best are finding goals at opportune times – something devoid of this squad in similar situations over the past view seasons.
So that leaves us with the argument then on who plays. It’s fair to say and expect that the squad will likely be a mix of first teamers, reserves and youth. The big names to feature should likely be Podolski and Oxlade-Chamberlain on the wings. Giroud will likely give way to Nicklas Bendtner up top. In the back Monreal and Jenkinson will fill out the FBs with Vermaelen and probably Mertesacker holding down the centre of the defense. In goal is Fabianski.
That leaves 3 midfield positions open and it’s anyone’s best guess who will feature. With Southampton on Tuesday the big boys I feel will sit. Arteta is supposed to come back to full training on Monday which means Flamini could start but I wouldn’t be surprised if Frimpong or some other player takes that slot. As for the other two roles it could be Hayden and Wilshere or Wilshere and Zelalem.
I know the argument is being made for some of our more promising talents to get a run out but I still think the FA Cup is the best option for Arsenal in terms of silverware this season. I certainly believe Arsenal can win the league title but I am not sure they will. I have been adamant in the argument that the trend to better times certainly seems here and here to stay but I still think more time is needed for this group to truly mature into title winners.
Of course everything about this season defies the odds and as I said Arsenal certainly CAN win the title, especially if they keep defying the odds. However, I am still left with the gnawing feeling that at some point this fantastic run will hit a wall and we’ll slip a little. I’m not waiting for it, hoping for it or any other aspect of it, it’s just my honest assessment.
That’s why I want us to go all out for today. I’d personally prefer the strongest possible team. But so long as we are in the title hunt, I don’t suspect Wenger will go along with my train of thought.
Additionally, I am not in the camp that says you have to blood young talent. Take for instance the case of young master Zelalem. If you are on social media, specifically twitter, the calls for him to start tonight are all over the place. However, I’m not one of them. Gideon is by all accounts a prodigious talent. Some accounts even go to calling him our next “Cesc Fabregas.”
He may very well be just that. It’s still not a case for him to immediately get a call up to the first team. Let him mature and develop away from the critical eyes of the supporters. Let him mature beyond his 16 years and develop into the talent everyone seems to think he will be.
Theo Walcott is the prime example of a player whom much was expected of at an early age and because of the weight of expectations foisted on him both by this club’s supporters and those who follow the national team, never got the time he needed to develop fairly. Because of his early inclusion into the National Team and the signing by Arsenal much was expected early and when he didn’t deliver he was wrongly accused of such stupidity like the “lack of footballing brain.” Theo is coming into his prime and by all accounts the promise that was noticed early on is finally being realized. Imagine had he been allowed to mature without so much hype.
That’s another reason why I am so much for us relying on the first teamers and reserves and less on the youngsters. I want us to win this cup. The FA Cup is England’s cup. It is in my opinion the most prestigious of all the league’s Cups. It is historic and FA Cup campaigns are filled with such memories.
It’s also a suitable launching board for greater things. I keep pointing to the case of Manchester City. The season before City won the title they bedded in their championship pedigree with a FA Cup win. It cemented their arrival and locked in on the squad that they felt WOULD win the title. They went on to do it the following season and it the fact they ground it out on the last day only proves that they did because they believe they could do it.
That’s what I want from this Arsenal. I want them to win this cup. I want them to win many things but first they need the ability to believe they can and will win. The self-belief in each other is evident and this group clearly enjoys playing together. Wenger took a risk by running with such a small squad to promote the mentality that now permeates through the squad.
Winning the FA Cup solidifies that and it creates a sense in the entire squad that they are winners. Arsene seems to understand the stature of this cup and while he pines for the elusive Champion’s League win and the league title he knows what winning the FA Cup means. He’s done it 4 times and based on recent comments he knows what it would mean for this squad.
Go on you Arsenal win this tonight and then win the whole bloody thing.
What are your thoughts on tonight’s FA Cup tie? Can Arsenal win it all? Who would you start? Youngsters? Reserves? First team?
