The diminishing of the FA Cup over the last few years has been apparent to anyone.
Premier League and Champions League money has left the once proud competition in the shade, and the FA’s attempts to reinvigorate the cup have done more damage than good.
However, it’s a special tournament for Arsenal, who have won the trophy more times than anyone else, and Arsene Wenger who has more FA Cup triumphs (6) than any other modern manager.
The Gunners face Lincoln City at the Emirates tomorrow, and club captain Per Mertesacker says that the inspired run the National League side have had is evidence that the cup still has something special.
“That’s what the cup’s about, that’s the beauty of it,” he told the official site.
“They were all buzzing to meet us at Sutton. They gave us a good reception, both their players and fans. This time we know our home ground better and we are excited to play in front of our home crowd on the way to Wembley.
“But the way they went to Burnley and won, in that fashion, that needs to be respected. We cannot underestimate any side in any league in this country, and that’s what I’ve learned. When I played in the German cup, it was the same.
“The only advantage here is that in Germany we would’ve travelled to Lincoln because they have home-court advantage.
“That would’ve been more interesting, but at the same time they won away from home in the previous round.”
So does Barca’s turnaround victory. I can’t stand the sight of Suarez but I’d take that result if I were a barca fan I think.
Anyways, I’m just hoping the team can end the season strongly and stay in the top 4. Even an FA cup win seems improbable at this point.
You mean the turnaround led by the officials. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv0U9zkfjZc Here Mascherano admits that he fouled DiMaria in the penalty box.
Neymar runs into man on the ground who clearly fell but didn´t throw himself down in his path. Penalty rewarded.
Blatant dive by Suarez – another yellow and a red. Penalty awarded instead.
Barcelona and Bayern are through – what else is new???
Such obvios bias.
Two very soft penalties for Barca.
One very soft sending off against the Arsenal.
We may say we faltered again against Bayern but PSG didn’t get anywhere either.
Sure, why not?
Like I don’t get why the FA just don’t jack up the prize money so the ‘bigger teams’ have more of a financial interest in winning it? The amount of money floating around the TV rights now surely means they could pay the winner more? I personally love the FA cup, it was always my favourite competition growing up. I’ve personally been so fortunate to of seen us win it live so several times. I was at the cup final in Cardiff when Ray rasped that effort top bins from 25 yards against Chelsea. I’ve been to the two most… Read more »
I think the incentive should be winning the oldest trophy in football. Not everything has to be spoiled by money.
I think the fact that we have 5 of the top 6 left in the quarter finals shows that the big teams are taking in seriously
Really hope we tear Lincoln a new one tomorrow, no disrespect to them, what they’ve done is amazing but I just want to see arsenal really turn someone over so I can slightly forget about all the madness surrounding our club right now. CMON YOU GUNNERS
i want lincoln to beat us and go all the way to win the cup
Isn’t Leicester’s finishing above us last season enough for you?
The club really needs more supporters like you.
…to start supporting someone else.
Sounds like he does support someone else..
Knew what it was going to say when I clicked unhide.
Wannabe gooner did not disappoint.
The club captain must start tomorrow! It’s not like he’s going to injure his leg on a fuzzy felt pitch like the last round.
Didn’t get the part about it being different in Germany? Do lower league teams play home by default in the German cup?
I came in to ask the same thing ☃
From Wikipedia: The pairings for the DFB Cup are not entirely random as the teams are split into two pots of 32 teams each. One pot contains all the amateur teams including teams from the 3. Liga and the teams just being promoted to the 2. Bundesliga. The other pot contains the teams from the Bundesliga and the teams of the 2. Bundesliga who has not just been promoted. Therefore, in the first round of the cup each professional team plays an amateur team. Since 1982, the amateur generally plays at home when facing a professional team. For the second… Read more »
Nothing like organisation to make things exciting.
Yes they do. Bayern are already in the semi and will host BVB. But if, IF Lotte upset BVB then bayern will travel to the smaller club
Not only do they play at home, I’m pretty sure the early rounds are sort of seeded – so the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga sides are put into a pot and are drawn against the 3rd division and amateur teams form the other pot
Shouldn’t that first paragraph say everyone.
does anyone even give a shit anymore . im tired of watching our team thrashing minnows in matches with no significance and showing no balls at all for the games that matter the most
An FA Cup quarter final is a match with no significance? Are you sure?
That’s our annuall problem, for example last year when we close the gap with Leicester by 2 point and suddenly we choked so hard then the gap widen to 8, after we have no chance to win the league, we perform again.
Our players can handle such a big pressure, weak mentality.
It’s our ONLY chance at a trophy this season. Fingers crossed all the guys will be up for it.
You shouldn’t have to cross your fingers for that. It should a given. They should be up for every game. It’s their fucking job.
One that they’ve been doing piss poor for a while now.
Just on the point of Arsenal having won the FA Cup more than any other team, that’s not strictly true as they’re tied with Manchester United on 11 each!
12 each rather
I watch Arsenal 7 years and have no idea what Wenger did. Then the best our players left us because club did not have enough ambitions. What the fuck is going on now? it is really rediculous that this clown Wenger still has some kind of support. How could it be possible? Arsenal finishes each season either in february or in march. How can all of you tolerate this? That coach always puts his own values higher than club’s. He doesn’t care that Arsenal’s fans need to watch Sanogo against Bayern. I know, right now there will be many henchmans… Read more »
Kids these days
Start from Wikipedia.
He didn’t watch boring boring Arsenal pre Wenger period?:D
When we rarely featured in Europe?
He didn’t watch the first 8 to ten years of his reign?
Invincibles?
Thanks for the memories? Fuck off Wenger?
Wenger is making the club toxic?
What a bunch of classless ingrates.
I have supported Arsenal for 44 years. The club is older than I am. I respect the club. Come back when you do.
Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose. That is life. That is Arsenal. Get behind the team and we will win more often than we lose.
Point of protest was made clear on Tuesday and message understood but time to get behind Wenger and the team. Listened with interest on the Arsecast and in no way am I pro-Wenger. For me it seems fruitless continuing the protest and the banners can wait until the end of season. Do the same people that want us to lose Saturday want us to lose at the Lane and finish below Spurs? Change will happen but for now let’s show the doubting world how united we can be and raise our performance as fans. Wenger could use the bad atmosphere… Read more »
These protesters are classless. And the protest is pointless. Wenger would in all likelyhood leave anyway. The old chap is 67yrs old. He’s already devoted 2 decades to lifting the club up. To think the finances of the club back when he started was on par with the likes of Spurs or Chelsea pre-Abramovich takeover, we got a chance to build the stadium because of the consistency and the brand of football Wenger brought to the club. Whether he leaves this summer or next should depend on the best person to succeed him. We should not be rushed into a… Read more »
Wenger lowered level of expectations, it is really big problem. Do you think it is normal to lose 10-2 and have no consequences? It is not the first time!!!! Do you think it is normal for fans to watch the same scenario time and time again? Right now our fans look at Liverpool, Borussia, Napoli. We all compare Arsenal to them rather than Bayern, juventus, Barca. Do you notice difference? No every fan can just sit tight and wait. As I know, before every remaining home game (6 times yet) there will be protests. For many this season is dead… Read more »
Wenger lowered the level of expectations? He built up the club to a level where fans like yourself feel entitled to be Bayern, Barca, etc., all the while slating him. That’s just fucking annoying.
How long time are we gonna repeat and recall what wenger did? It is the past. You, me and other fans live in 2017 year. When was the last year we all could say something positive about Wenger? Look, if you have already forgotten what kind of club won the title last year, I could remind. I don’t wanna say that Wenger is bad person, but currently he is totally inappropriate in terms of modern coaching. Everyone of you who still protects him knows that. Until now Wenger said nothing regarding his future, so that can mean only one thing… Read more »
Yes, I am protecting Wenger – but mainly, I am doing my tiny part to protect common-sense. I commented on your incorrect assumption ‘Wenger lowered the level of expectations’. Then you went on to call him a ‘fraud specialist in failure’ – what a load of bullshit and a comment taken from all the twats in the world, Mourinho! It’s one thing to want Wenger to leave (which it seems many fans have now signed up for – not me), but it’s another thing if posters like you think you can make up BS on message boards and not get… Read more »
Further to PB70’s comment.
Every week millions of football fans world wide support their so called lesser teams week in week out with not much chance of them ever reaching the level of Liverpool, Borussia or Napoli, let alone the corrupt colossuses you take for granted we should be like. What’s so special about you that makes any of the three first mentioned teams beneath you? And who the fuck do you think you are calling Wenger a fraud?
Fuck off with your spoilt attitude!
As much as people hate the idea, I would like to see Debuchy given a shot at tomorrows game. When he was playing a couple months ago before another injury, he was actually playing very well! Ah well. It’ll never happen.
Nah. We need to give players time who : a) want to be at the club long term b) are good enough to be at the club (no Jenko either) Rback will have to be addressed though this summer. Gabriel has done a decent job trying to fill in in an unfamiliar role. Bellerin has been a bit off the biol, maybe the season is starting to get to him. On the other flank we will also need to watch Bramall’s development. Gibbs has been unconvincing IMO. Monreal is more assured with decisions but getting on (plus the pace issue)… Read more »
Is he even alive?
By the comments it seems that winning this cup again should make us forget about yet another PL meltdown…..Wow unbeleivable
Its still a very prestigious piece of silverware. Winning this cup will make us THE most successful in the competition with 13 wins. If United win it, they would be the most successful. You’d prefer that. I’d say finishing as high as possible above Spurs and an FA cup win isn’t the title but it isn’t too shabby. How many other clubs will take away something beside the title winners which looks increasingly like Chelsea who like Leicester last season have had no CL competition this season. On the CL front (and in Europe), we should be pushing higher and… Read more »
If it makes you any happier, I will get back to you if we win the FA cup and remind you how miserable you should be. I ‘m nice like that!
I’d be very happy winning the FA cup regardless.
there’s a reason why it is at the very end of the season (unlike the milk cup)
It will be very nice indeed if we should win it.
Not the big prize but what’s there to be miserable about?:D
The FA cup was, is and always will be a major trophy and well worth winning but if we beat lincoln there are some big teams in there and we all know how that pans out. RE the bear blog, was at a few of those games, in the northbank with the smoke and seen him do his stuff many times. Oh its inTer city firm not inNer.
Defeatist attitude.
History is made to be re-written.
3 seasons ago, they said we would not win any trophies again and fall out of the top 4.
We stayed in the top 4 and won two trophies back to back…they were FA cups.;)
Oh yeah.. KROENKE OUT!
Why? Is a new owner going to be any different? Most owners don’t understand the full complexity of the game. Kroenke certainly doesn’t know very much. Being that, it would be wise for them to concentrate on the business end and leave the rest to the board and manager to sort out. Owner meddling, you only have to look at Leeds United back in the day or Mike Ashley at Newcastle. Fired old Bobby Robson and the team slid down into the toilet from CL contention. I don’t think the owner is doing anything terribly wrong. he is trying to… Read more »
Lower ticket prices???????? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
Poll:
Looking forward to the next game (for all sorts of reasons)? Up
Want to talk about managerial issues some more? Down.
Managers. Well at very least I’d say the time is ripe for change. There is a new breed of managers. The likes of Luis Enrique and Emmery are likely to move on this summer. I’m not sure if they have been fully blooded beyond the teams they are with currently. In Emmery’s case, he is a big fish in a small pond. In Enriquie’s he has some of the best talents already shoed in in his squad. Allegri may be somewhat similar because Juve has been so dominant (Inter and AC have fallen away) Tuschel is also IMO relatively unproven.… Read more »
Arseblog news comment section is more exciting that Arsenal matches lately lol
Wenger mentioned in recent interview that he took a gamble at 1-1 against Bayern. To me it was the correct thing to do being that the Ref already semi decided the match with sending Koscielny off. Everyone is up in arms with the performance but truthfully the real damage was done second half first leg. Whether we went out by a goal or four or five in the second half mattered little. Even PSG who had a good first leg was undone by second leg trying to defend it and of course the as expected Refereeing decisions going the other… Read more »
There’s no way Arsenal will lose the game, we clearly one level above them, go with our first team and we’ll be okay, if we lose the game, i have no words to describe our team but shit.