The FA Cup is special… but the Premier League title must definitely come first for an Arsenal squad who have a ton of injuries ahead of their trip to Southampton
Arteta faces a difficult decision (Image: GLYN KIRK, AFP via Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta has some tough decisions to make in a week that will decide Arsenal’s season. Arsenal remain in the hunt for the Treble and will play all three competitions over eight days, starting with Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Southampton.
Next up is next Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final match against Sporting Lisbon, followed by Saturday’s match against Bournemouth at 12.30pm at lunchtime.
So how does the Arsenal manager manage such a exhausted team? And can or should we prioritize this incredible season with the potential to make history?
Remember, Arsenal have won more FA Cups than any other club. The record is 14 times. Arsene Wenger himself has a record of seven championships.
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It is a competition at the heart of clubs and a treasured asset of English football, and an FA Cup weekend always brings stories, drama and excitement.
But Arsenal have such a chance in the Champions League, where they have never won, and if they can get through such a tricky game against Bournemouth, they will be 12 points clear of Manchester City, who play Chelsea the next day.
So when it comes to dilemmas, Arteta has big options. With so many injured players on the treatment table, the international break became something of a casualty episode for Arsenal.
William Saliba, Gabriel, Eberechi Eze, Julian Timber, Leandro Trossard, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Noni Maduke, Martin Zvimendi, Piero Hincapie. Martin Odegaard also missed the match against Norway due to a knee problem.
Many of them have knocks and minor injuries because they have played so many games. There was a “wink, wink” attitude towards Rice and Saka, but it was a real injury that they had and continues to haunt them.
Eze could be back sooner than expected, but not this weekend. Madueke’s knee condition is not as bad as initially feared, but he won’t risk it until he’s ready.
Mikel Arteta (Image: Vince Mignott/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
This leaves us playing a game of who will face Southampton. Here’s a theory: Kepa Arrizabalaga. Ben White, Cristian Mosquera, Gabriel and Miles Lewis-Skelly. Christian Norgaard, Martin Odegaard. Max Dauman, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus.
Perhaps Victor Gokeres could be added to the equation. Kai Havertz could play as number 10. The rice is closer than the slope. Odegaard may welcome a game that demands sharpness. They are still strong and will have a lot of young players on the bench.
The team is still big. However, the question arises as to where the FA Cup fits in for Arsenal. Can they realistically make the treble? The answer is definitely yes. But certainly now the title trumps everything.
If they can win the title for the first time in 22 years, it would be an incredibly memorable feat for Arsenal and Arteta. Some experts talk about winning just one as if it’s some kind of consolation prize. What nonsense. That would be great.
However, there are rare occasions when a club wins more than one trophy, making the season unforgettable. They have left their mark on history. Arsenal won the league and FA Cup double in 1971, 1998 and 2002. These players are legends and their memories will live on forever.
Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are two of a number of Arsenal stars to withdraw from international duty (Image: Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
That’s why Saturday and the trip to Southampton are so important. And the issue became even more important after Arsenal’s last game ended in defeat in the Carabao Cup final. Can you imagine how negative it would be if they skipped two parts of the quad in back-to-back games?
However, Arsenal will be keeping an eye on the match between Sporting and Bournemouth. If Arsenal win, there will be a lot of pressure on City. With 12 points, City will face Chelsea the next day. It’s very difficult to win a tough game when you’re chasing and the other team is winning.
This confusion brings up another ridiculous problem with this season. Equipment list. That’s brutal. I complain about the number of games and requests. However, the international break will be followed by the FA Cup.
Arsenal’s last league game was against Everton on Saturday 14 February, while City’s last game was against West Ham on the same day. The match was postponed to the following weekend as both sides were in the Carabao Cup final.
But by the time Arsenal face Bournemouth, it will be their first Premier League match in 28 days. The next day’s Prem game against Chelsea gave City 29 wins.
We managed to get through this crazy schedule in a season where manager Thomas Tuchel is worried about burnout ahead of England’s World Cup appearance. You could call it a mini-break. There aren’t many because there are other games in between.
But even if that were the case, it would mean all the other matches would be packed together, so clubs chasing trophies would play every three days for a good portion of the season. This can lead to injuries and burnout. And that is the biggest threat to English football.
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