Arsenal head into the fifth round of the FA Cup in their worst shape for many-a-year. The confusion surrounding the future of manager Arsene Wenger and star man Alexis Sanchez is as prominent as it’s even been for either of them, with fans reaching breaking point.
The retaliation from fans to the humiliating loss against Bayern Munich was more ferocious than ever seen. Whilst those on channels such as Arsenal Fan TV may not represent the voices of all Arsenal fans, they are, unfortunately for some, the ones being heard the loudest.
Having decided against making any announcement over his future, stating that it will be March or April when he decides the path he will take, in his pre-match press conference, Wenger insists that whilst fans and the media continue to get worked up over how much time he has left at The Emirates, the squad’s focus is fixed on the next game.
That next game presents what should have been a routine evening, but now appears a monumental mountain that must be climbed. A trip to National League Sutton United, who ironically were set to be facing the other non-league success story of this year’s FA Cup, Lincoln City who knocked out Burnley today, in league action this weekend, should have been a formality for the Gunners, however, given the events of the last few weeks has now become a huge fixture.
A cup tie against lowly opposition always presents the chance for an embarrassing slip up, especially the further they make it into the competition. However, whilst although his side were far off the pace in Munich, where Wenger can point to the shear class of the opposition on Wednesday night, he can have no such excuses on Monday.
A lot has been made of the Gunners’ mental strength this term. At the start of the season their manager claimed he had the most mature side he’d dealt with for years at his disposal, I guess that says a lot for the mental toughness of his previous squads over the last five or six seasons.
Whilst the capitulation against the likes of Chelsea and Bayern Munich showed frailties in the mind-set of some players, Monday’s trip to Gander Green Lane will be their biggest test yet.
The game will be played out on a plastic pitch which, although they are not used to it should suit the north London side, although everyone who does not proclaim themselves an Arsenal fan will be backing the hosts.
The players will go into the last tie of the weekend knowing that if they come back without a win the reaction will be double that of what we saw post-Munich.
However, come away with a convincing win, regardless of the opposition, and the players can take heart in having sidestepped one of the most unexpected tests they will face this season and may just be able to use it as a springboard to get their season back on track.