Arsene Wenger has promised that Arsenal will win a trophy, and a lot of Arsenal fans are looking forward this seasons FA Cup, anticipating a date at Wembley May.
In his pre-game press conference Wenger spoke about the world’s oldest cup competition.
“We want to win this game, it is as simple as that,” said Wenger ahead of the trip to Upton Park. “We want to get into the Fourth Round and therefore we will just try to combine two things – to protect our other challenges and be competitive in the FA Cup. That’s where my target lies, to combine all these challenges together without affecting the results of the team.”
Juggling his line-up is tricky for Wenger this weekend as Arsenal managerless Bolton on Wednesday. A win there will move Arsenal to within a point of league leaders Chelsea.
Wenger is hoping that some of Arsenal’s walking wounded will be fit for the trip to Upton Park. Tomas Rosicky is expected to play, while Philippe Senderos will have a late fitness test to see if he is ready to play his first game for the Club, outside the Carling Cup, in 19 months.
Injuries have seen Gianfranco Zola’s squad stripped down to the bare bones and that was before Scott Parker and Herita Ilunga succumbed to hamstring problems at Tottenham on Monday.
Joining Parker and Ilunga on the sidelines will be Mark Noble and Danny Gabbidon. Carlton Cole and Kieron Dyer are already out while Guillermo Franco is suspended.
I love the FA Cup, where smaller teams have the potential to upset the big guns. West Ham fans will remember the FA Cup final ten years ago when then Second Division West Ham United upset the odds by defeating Arsenal 1-0 in an FA Cup final best remembered for a rare and decisive headed goal by Trevor Brooking.
The FA Cup memory is prefer to remember is the first one I remember Arsenal playing in. That was the 1971 FA Cup final where Charlie George scored that goal.
Prediction
West Ham will really be up for this game as this is all they have to play for this season. Even with that said, I expect Arsenal to get a 2-1 victory and move into the 4th round.
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Arsenal will win 2 – 0 Good luck Arsenal
arsenal exprience and talland strong striker
Gunners is always the great fighter in cup games. Scored 10s in 3 matches, Arsenal can easily destroy Hammers.
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