The atmosphere around Arsenal over the past week or so has been a tumultuous one, with many furiously demanding that manager Arsene Wenger steps down after over two decades in charge, whilst others, including former players, are unsure of the situation.
The Gunners got over what could have been an embarrassing hurdle when they beat Marco Silva’s rejuvenated Hull City side at The Emirates on Saturday and, with Chelsea dropping points at Burnley the next day, Wenger will not be giving up on the title race just yet. They got lucky with Alexis Sanchez’s double and could the Gunners be getting the rub of the green now?
However, it is not only the Premier League title which constitutes success for the north Londoners this season, there is more than just one prize on offer.
Wenger’s side were knocked out of the EFL Cup at the quarter-final stages by Southampton this season, not that the competition is of any real value to Gunners fans, however, they returned the favour by hammering the Saints 5-0 in the last round of the FA Cup.
Their win in the fourth round setup at fifth round date with lowly Sutton United at Gander Green Lane which, should they get through, will prove as another banana skin avoided and a boost to the mental strength that has been such a talking point this term, as with the result against Hull at the weekend.
However, whilst wins against those two should, emphasis on that last word, be a formality, the one game which could really turn the Gunners’ run-in on its head comes before the FA Cup tie.
The trip to Bayern Munich for Wenger is becoming almost as regular as that to Manchester United or Chelsea in the Premier League, however, it is becoming no less difficult.
The draw will have consigned many Arsenal fans to feeling that their Champions League campaign was over for yet another year, making it seven seasons in which they have not made it beyond the round of 16.
However, despite losing 5-1 the last time they made the trip to the Allianz, the Gunners have only lost once in their last three outings to the German giants, meaning there is hope for the side.
Should Wenger and his men manage to pick up a result in the away tie, whether that be a draw or a loss, they will be tough to beat in the home leg, regardless of the opposition.
Getting past Carlo Ancelotti’s side in the first knockout round could do no end of good to the Gunners, who currently sit ten points adrift of Antonio Conte’s Chelsea.
Whilst the gap may seem insurmountable, there is still a long way to go and, including a strong run in the Champions League and FA Cup, Wenger has every chance to make a fist of what is left of this season.