Well, kiddies, looks like we'll face Chelsea in the 6th. Here's the story, courtesy of Arsenal.com: http://www.arsenal.com/sportsappcon...e&type=com.sportapps.news.NewsItem&id=3570689 In related news, the rest of the competition: WATFORD v FULHAM or BURNLEY SOUTHAMPTON v WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS SHEFFIELD UNITED v LEEDS UNITED Vive le AFC! OPArse
Re-match of last year's final. Should be a good one. I'm gonna be in London on the day that they play. Anyone know how I can get tickets for this one?
Talk to Jeff Lancaster on the "So you Want To Visit Highbury..." thread. The man is amazing with tickets and whatnot. Should be a great match. Have fun (you lucky bastard...) Vive le AFC! OPArsenal
Haha, you can call me a lucky bastard once I get a ticket. Till then I'm just a regular schmuck that'll be visiting London.
Ugh. Honestly, I hate this draw, I'd much rather have had Watford. At least it's at home, but I'm all for taking the path of least resistance. Watford, Burnley, then Sheffield United would have been fine with me.
This is one of those times when I really wish the FA would seed the teams so they can avoid throwing their two top teams against each other round after round. Having top EPL clubs play each other in each round is great to keep interesting going in the tournament, but it would have been better to face Chelsea or ManUre in the finals rather than blow your load now and have Arsenal against Watford for the Cup.
I second that. I know they've probably been doing this for millennia, but I think it's silly to have two of the three top EPL sides (and finalists last year) play each other now rather than later. Sometimes romance is overrated.
I find it hard to believe that the FA would rig this draw. Not that the FA is not prone to eking out every last dollar from fixing schedules etc... However, it would behoove them to keep the EPL teams apart (and certainly those at the top of the table), which would make this draw unfavorable for them as well. However, after Arsenal get past Chelsea (which they should do!), they will have smooth sailing for the finals. It will be great if Arsenal can stuff Chelsea another time in the FA Cup... "Oh, it is only Ray Parlour!"
Conspiracy, I tell you!!! Don't you see, Wenger can put in second-string team in like he did with Man Utd, it isn’t really a gamble because if we lose, Wenger can claim the league and Europe is more important. But after that, Wenger has to use first-string players against crappy teams who will play hard, and those will be scrappy games that may result in injuries. BTW, I am more worried about small teams because Arsenal has a record of losing to bad teams, in the league at least.
I'm not saying it's a vast conspiracy, but it is kind of strange that, in one round, Arsenal has to play Man U on the road. They win that game then, in the next game, play the next best team in the competition. It smells like more than just coincidence to me.
Having Arsenal play ManUtd and Chelsea in succession doesn't bother me, what does bother me is playing the final against Wolves or a relegation bound Fulham. To say it's anticlimactic is a severe understatement.
Since Arsenal beat Man U very easily in the competition, I'm more confident that they can beat Chelsea. Once they get rid of Chelsea, they can win the cup!
Chelsea at home shouldnt be a problem. I believe we have not lost points to Chelsea , at home, in 10 years. Now if it were at Stamford Bridge Id be worried because all we manage is a draw. As the fixtures begin to crowd the last thing we need is a replay.
Last year's final happened on May 4th, my 21st birthday. Though turning 21 in England means nothing, that didnt stop me and all my other American friends from throwing down. To be honest, I dont remember much of the match......