When the Gunners lift the trophy this year it will certianly be deserved. It seems like we have drawn the toughest oppenent (not name ManU) in every single round.
anyone get the feeling someone keeps hoping we get dumped out of the cup? every year it seems we meet the toughest teams, while certain others waltz thru with easy matches. Also, further evidence of some match fixing, look at the Millwall fixture - -someone wants a non-pl team to advance for sure. I don't know, but, I think that when you have too many instances of coincidence, it is not a coincidence. No matter though, we'll still go on to win just like the past 2 years!
The tougher games just makes sure the team is up for it every round. It would be easy to get a small team, take it too easy and end up on the wrong end of a giant-killing performance. Bring 'em on!
By the way - Arsenal are away to either Pompy or Liverpool (not at home as indicated in original post). Accusations of fixing? You're having a laugh, have you seen how they draw the fixtures?? It's so low tech it would be nigh on impossible to manipulate....
A first division side would have been nice so more of the younger players could be used. This match falls right between the CL Celta Vigo games. I can't see risking many of the big names with such a big match only a few days later. The next four weeks should be very interesting. GJ40
Assuming that Fulham win their replay, I think ManU may have got the tougher draw, even though they are at Old Trafford. At the very least, it's a toss-up to me. I think the lower division sides would prefer to be drawn against the top teams. Millwall/Tranmere? C'mon... and the memories will last a fortnight.
If we get Pompey, Man Utd will get the tougher draw I think if Fulham gets the win. But it will be very very tough for us if we get Liverpool. We have a thin squad but the good thing is Kanu will be back. Possibly Freddie as well and I'm keeping my hopes that Aliadiere will resurface before too long. We've drawn all PL sides!! Winning it this year will be fully deserved. Man Utd looks like they got the luck of the draw and have an easy road to the semis or finals.
Haha, you gotta love the posts on this site from Utd supporters... Must be dull their end...and never have anything worthy of our great club to say... THIS IS AN ARSENAL BOARD !!!
Do you remember how many jeers were thrown at Fergie a couple of years ago from Arsenal supporters when he had the gall to question the CL draws and how ManU were constantly drawing into tough groups?? Oh, the irony.
Nobody's saying the draws are fixed here. People are just observing that in recent times Arsenal has gotten a lot of the tougher draws. Of course they could win the next one, draw ManU in the semifinals, and then play a lesser team to win it all. Despite Arsenal's tough draws, I have to say I like the way they randomly draw teams for each round. It adds excitement and uncertainty to the tournament. Just think how interesting it would be if they did that in, say, the NCAA basketball tournament.
No irony really. The difference is that Wenger is not as stupid as Fergy to say so in public. AND, why would fergy, manager of the BIGGEST club in the world be so paranoid about CL draws? He should think as Bergkamp does, bring-on all comers because we'll be deserving champs if we win it all. Anyway, in my post I raise the issue as to whether there is indeed a fix going on, but I'm not the manager of Arsenal, yet ) so I can raise this issues without fear of ridicule on the world stage (unlike fergy). But, you've got to admit that the odds of Arsenal (who happen to be defending champs) drawing so many PL teams in the Cup so many years in a row could raise questions. HWR, I'll never be able to prove a fix, and we're still gonna thrash whoever we play, so in the end it doesn't matter. But, it is good for discussion though.
My feeling is that it doesn't really matter seeing as how you have to beat the best to be the best. Arsenal haven't lost an FA Cup match since the debacle that was the final against Liverpool in 2001. I would think that either Liverpool or Pompey would be a much easier game than Chelsea, so the worst (outside a match with manUre at OT) is over for the most part.
If we do get to play Liverpool, can someone please tell Henchoz that outfield players are not allowed to use their hands! And, hey, hey, Scouser, if you want irony, what about your lot moaning about how Man Utd get all the ref's decisions but didn't say a thing when the Pool were accused of the exact same thing for over twenty years.
I was rather hoping that we would have drawn a small provincial club like..... Man. Ure. After all, we beat them 2 - 0 at "Old Tramshed" without DB10 and TH14 on the bench!
Oh no, dear boy, I'm not arrogant. Just honest and truthful. And by the way, I'll have a baguette fromage. I think the prawns have gone off this year!