Will we bottle the Fa Cup ?

[IBK]

Wigan wll outplay and embarsse Arsenal. Another trophyless season I'm afraid.

The fact that we cannot be confident about playing them, given the evidence we have seen for the last 5 years - speaks volumes about where we are.

[selassie]

Have you seen Wigan play recently? They are a very accomplished passing side who tore City to shreds in the last round. When we went to City we collapased and couldnt get hold of the ball. Just because Wigan are a small town club and play in the Championship I wouldnt take this as a given. We did that against Birmingham remember. I wont even label this as a shock, I think we go in to this game as favoruites where as Wigan havent got anything to lose. Our whole season depends on this, where as thier main focus is the playoffs and promotion. This will be a day out for all of Wigan, I can see us losing this game without being shocked to be truthful.

I agree Wigan are a very accomplished side and I truly hope Wenger doesn't underestimate them. Wigan are a Premier League side playing in the Championship IMHO, they are no worse than West Ham or someone like that.

I think if the players are really up for this and take them seriously then we should win but it's going to be a very difficult game, I wouldn't be surprised if they take us to extra time.

[Niall_Quinn]

The fact that we cannot be confident about playing them, given the evidence we have seen for the last 5 years - speaks volumes about where we are.

as long as we aren't as over confident as the gypos were we'll be ok.

[IBK]

as long as we aren't as over confident as the gypos were we'll be ok.

Perhaps - but the fact that no Gooner now thinks we will take charge of this is illustrative of where we are.

[Maestro]

The fact that we cannot be confident about playing them, given the evidence we have seen for the last 5 years - speaks volumes about where we are.

tbf it is a cup game and they will be as motivated as anyone, more so because they are defending it

[Dein-machine]

But you still want Wenger out even if we do win it?

Why would you want Wenger to stay if we do win it?

[Letters]

Why would you want Wenger to stay if we do win it?

Because we've made progress this year and if we win a trophy too that will be something worth building on.

Last year we were struggling most of the season and only just snuck into the top 4 on the last day.
This year after 29 games we were 4 points off the top with a game in hand. Yes yes, the thumping was embarrassing but we're still 9 points off better than at this stage last year and we've got a lot of good wins this year in games we were drawing or losing last year. We've negotiated 3 tricky Cup ties (all at home, admittedly, but still 3 of the top 6 teams and one who are genuine title contenders) to get us to the FA Cup semi final. We've had this big mental block in big games over the last few years which has contributed to us not winning trophies. If we go and do it this year - and with the teams left then we really should - then that's something we can build on. The players will no longer be playing for a side who haven't won a trophy in 9 years. We're a top striker away from being a side who can genuinely challenge. We don't need to rip everything up and start again.

[Niall_Quinn]

Anyone who wants Wenger to leave this year under any circumstances is simply cutting their own throats and hasn't been paying attention to anything that has happened at this club over the last year. It really is a simple as that. If you measure the state of a club simply on the final league table then you have measured 50% at best of the important factors. Over the next 10 years we're going to have a big say in how that final table looks - BECAUSE of the 50% most are ignoring. Well maybe, because maybe football will change all over again, you can only plan for what you know. But the signs are excellent.

Another question that has to be asked - why do fans want to win tin pots above all else? Is it for the pot? The tin it is made from? Or is it for something else? If the pot is a symbol of achievement that represents the culmination of effort across a broad spectrum then there is value. But if we are chasing tin for bragging rights or some other meaningless and fleeting satisfaction then there is no value. What strikes me most about modern fans is the ability to shift from worship to outright hatred in the space of a week. It implies a lack of thought and appreciation of what it really means and what it really takes to achieve something that is hard to achieve.

We could lose this tin cup for many reasons, just as we can win it for many reasons. A significant part of the outcome in any cup competition is random. To say we must win because we are a big club against smaller clubs is to throw away the essence of sport and competition. If we are at our best and the opponent is at their best and the random factors are not too significant then we should win. That's the best we can say. To approach the match with the feeling of entitlement is a sure fire way to lose. Again, I'm glad that some of our so-called fans aren't within a mile of the decision making process.

There was a time when it genuinely appeared the fans were being fucked over. The many being robbed by the few. There has now been a clear demonstration this is not the case. There is evidence right under our noses. So now there are the loudest calls of all for everything to be blown to pieces, some say on the strength of who gets to hoist a tin cup. The pot isn't the goal. The effort and planning that goes before the final and almost trivial by comparison act of hoisting the pot is what counts. And if anyone has the nerve to say there has been no effort, no plan, then the only option is to laugh in their face. There is a simple remedy for the pot chasers who value nothing but the tin - there are two clubs available who have turned the capture of pots without any of the typical burdens of sport and ambition into an art form. They will welcome your shallow support with open arms.

[Dein-machine]

Because we've made progress this year and if we win a trophy too that will be something worth building on.

Last year we were struggling most of the season and only just snuck into the top 4 on the last day.
This year after 29 games we were 4 points off the top with a game in hand. Yes yes, the thumping was embarrassing but we're still 9 points off better than at this stage last year and we've got a lot of good wins this year in games we were drawing or losing last year. We've negotiated 3 tricky Cup ties (all at home, admittedly, but still 3 of the top 6 teams and one who are genuine title contenders) to get us to the FA Cup semi final. We've had this big mental block in big games over the last few years which has contributed to us not winning trophies. If we go and do it this year - and with the teams left then we really should - then that's something we can build on. The players will no longer be playing for a side who haven't won a trophy in 9 years. We're a top striker away from being a side who can genuinely challenge. We don't need to rip everything up and start again.

I can see where you're coming from with the "monkey off our back" scenario but I just think the footballing world at top level is simply beyond Wenger now. Watching EL Classico last night made me realise that we have actually gone backwards, we are not progressing. These teams have qualty players in every position, not necessarily £50mill + players but they can all pass & move with pace - a bit like what we used to do. We may even miss out on 4th this year yet & whilst I agree our points total is better so far, I put this down to us holding on & narrowly beating lesser teams by defending in numbers. This is not progress for Arsenal (only if we want to become Stoke) - it is anti-football for us & whilst we may get away with it against Palace & Fulham, we are not good enough at it against the better teams. 3 out of our last 4 signings have been free transfers, this is Wenger style - no other top manager would do this because they know it cannot work. Even our subs should be of a certain quality for us to be where we should be at this stage of Wenger's reign. When, during his early reign, did we ever get the hammering's we've had in later years by our competitors - don't bring out the "Sheiks & Oligarchs" excuse because Liverpool hammered us this year & we were lucky in my opinion to not get another hammering from them in the cup. We have been & are able to compete with them financially. Liverpool can certainly claim progress - we most certainly can't.

[Dein-machine]

Anyone who wants Wenger to leave this year under any circumstances is simply cutting their own throats and hasn't been paying attention to anything that has happened at this club over the last year. It really is a simple as that. If you measure the state of a club simply on the final league table then you have measured 50% at best of the important factors. Over the next 10 years we're going to have a big say in how that final table looks - BECAUSE of the 50% most are ignoring. Well maybe, because maybe football will change all over again, you can only plan for what you know. But the signs are excellent.

Another question that has to be asked - why do fans want to win tin pots above all else? Is it for the pot? The tin it is made from? Or is it for something else? If the pot is a symbol of achievement that represents the culmination of effort across a broad spectrum then there is value. But if we are chasing tin for bragging rights or some other meaningless and fleeting satisfaction then there is no value. What strikes me most about modern fans is the ability to shift from worship to outright hatred in the space of a week. It implies a lack of thought and appreciation of what it really means and what it really takes to achieve something that is hard to achieve.

We could lose this tin cup for many reasons, just as we can win it for many reasons. A significant part of the outcome in any cup competition is random. To say we must win because we are a big club against smaller clubs is to throw away the essence of sport and competition. If we are at our best and the opponent is at their best and the random factors are not too significant then we should win. That's the best we can say. To approach the match with the feeling of entitlement is a sure fire way to lose. Again, I'm glad that some of our so-called fans aren't within a mile of the decision making process.

There was a time when it genuinely appeared the fans were being fucked over. The many being robbed by the few. There has now been a clear demonstration this is not the case. There is evidence right under our noses. So now there are the loudest calls of all for everything to be blown to pieces, some say on the strength of who gets to hoist a tin cup. The pot isn't the goal. The effort and planning that goes before the final and almost trivial by comparison act of hoisting the pot is what counts. And if anyone has the nerve to say there has been no effort, no plan, then the only option is to laugh in their face. There is a simple remedy for the pot chasers who value nothing but the tin - there are two clubs available who have turned the capture of pots without any of the typical burdens of sport and ambition into an art form. They will welcome your shallow support with open arms.

Arsenal fans had become used to success at Highbury & we were sold the "Emirates" dream by the board advising that we were moving to increase our financial revenue to allow us to build a side that could dominate Europe - NOT compete, we were already doing that with C.L semi-finals & final. Dominating Europe, I would expect them to mean winning most trophies or tin as you put it.
Now we have a lovely stadium but alas no tin! - not even a hint of it for 8 years.
So maybe as we're paying the highest prices in the league for season tickets, seeing the revenue increase every year, new shirt deals etc - maybe you shouldn't begrudge some of us having a moan when the guy in charge fucks up another year of our lives with his lack of ambition. If I was just here for the tin, I should be happy we have a great chance to win the FA Cup, but winning it this year after being humiliated by the top teams doesn't mean we are any step closer to dominating Europe.

Yes the Mancs & Chavs have bought trophies but if Liverpool were to win the title this year - it would prove money doesn't always prevail. Sometimes you need a manager with fresh ideas,one that understands the modern game & one that realises that free transfer players normally means that their SHIT.