As if February was not hard enough. Arsenal, who have a home tie with Manchester United sandwiched between a trip to Anfield and the first leg of our Champions League clash with Bayern Munich – all within 11 days – must now fit in another clash with Liverpool after the FA Cup fifth-round draw was made on Sunday.
Four games in 11 days is tough but these four games is near ridiculous. Not even the most optimistic of fans who bet on football are backing us to win all four, and it will be interesting to see how manager Arsene Wenger guides his team through this tricky schedule.
The first is a booby trap waiting to happen. Liverpool are free scoring at Anfield and although we comfortably beat them 2-0 earlier this season, this clash will be no easy affair. Luis Suarez has his tail up and defensive duo, Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny, must keep him at bay.
Indeed, the pair are the keystone to Wenger’s plans over this coming month, for if Mertesacker and Koscielny can stay fit we might just come through unscathed.
They must next handle Robin van Persie at our place – something Thomas Vermaelen failed to do last time – while the midfield will be introduced to Jose Mourinho’s double agent, Juan Mata, who this week signed for United for £37.5m.
With the visit of Bayern coming after a second clash with Liverpool, Wenger must decide how seriously he wants to win the FA Cup. Thankfully, the draw has also pitted Man City against Chelsea, so victory over Liverpool means Arsenal have just one realistic rival for the trophy.
Wenger is of course going to play full-strength sides in the league, but should he sacrifice a potential spanking at the hands of Bayern for safe passage into the FA Cup quarter-finals? It’s a decision that will keep the boss awake this month and one many football betting punters would like to see made , for with the greatest will in the world the Gunners have a better chance of winning the FA Cup than making the Champions League last-eight.
Guest post brought to you by M. Weaver
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Gambeano Snitch AFC 
Agree with you. It would be a complete travesty if Arsenal end up with no silverware this season and even though I’ve never really cared too much about it in the past, I think if we could bag the FA Cup and finish in the top three, it would be a very good season.
We deserve a lot of credit for getting out of our group in the CL but to be up against the holders in the next round is perhaps a step too far. At this stage.
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The fans may be a little unforgiving if we do not strengthen in this window to maximise our chances for silverware. It is so close yet nothing is guarenteed
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There risk no fear of wenger fielding his strongest side in the F.A cup. He is obsessed with the Champions league. So no silver this year …..again!
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Soccer players become very flexible the moment they step on field. I really adore those players who never fails to make a good game. Liverpool has many great players in their team that’s why they have a huge number of fans.
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