The Barcodes are in Town!

Tomorrow its Cup action again for the Gunners-PROPER Cup action. Not some Mickey Mouse, two-bob, Fizzy Pop Cup that we play our "B" side in Cup!! Its the FA Cup the last trophy that we won. Who would have thought that when Paddy stepped up to take that kick against ManUsa it would be his last kick for the club, and the last time we got our hands on any silverware? Not me, that's for certain.

We have a great FA Cup record, especially under the Legend Arsene Wenger and even though it's properly third in his targets for the season, he takes this Cup very seriously. He has taken Arsenal to four FA Cups victory's. And the first was against tomorrows opposition in the final, The Barcodes, in 1998 one half of a superb double season. Wenger spoke of his desire to win the game and that of Kevin Keegans return;

"We want to do well in the FA Cup. At the moment, there is no choice to make - we want to bounce back after the disappointment of Tuesday night," he said.

"When I will be in a situation where I have to choose between the FA Cup, the championship or the Champions League, I will prioritise the two other competitions.

"At the moment, the FA Cup is the next game, and we want to win the next game."

On Keegan;
"Maybe he gave them the lift they needed," said Wenger.

"Everybody lives with their personality, but at the end of the day it is about making the right decisions for the club. Kevin has done that very successfully in the past."


Arsenal's FA Cup record;
FA Cup Winners (10)
2005 Beat Manchester Utd 5-4 on penalties (after 0-0 draw)
2003 Beat Southampton 1-0
2002 Beat Chelsea 2-0
1998 Beat Newcastle United 2-0
1993 Beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1
1979 Beat Manchester United 3-2
1971 Beat Liverpool 2-1
1950 Beat Liverpool 2-0
1936 Beat Sheffield United 1-0
1930 Beat Huddersfield Town 2-0

This game has added spice by Kevin Keegan's return to the Newcastle job. The man only knows one way to prepare his side and how they play. Attack. I'm hoping that this will play into Arsenal hands tomorrow. On our day we can tear sides apart with our football. This is a game that we can win comfortably. We haven't been in the best of form in the last month, and the excellent 3-0 victory over Fulham last week was the best football we've played in a while.

I'm not sure how the boy's will start tomorrow's game. They could be a little nervous after the result in the week, but maybe they wont because of a major change in personnel? Confidence may have taken a little knock in the ranks but the players will be angry and will look to rectify THAT result with a victory. One thing's for certain, an early goal for us tomorrow would be a godsend and if any doubts were in place then that could help wipe them out.

The side will be picked from a squad of;
Almunia, Sagna, Senderos, Gallas, Clichy, Rosicky, Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb, Eduardo, Adebayor, Lehmann, Gilberto, Diaby, J Hoyte, Bendtner, Walcott.

In other news, Theo wont be going out on loan. The question was put to Wenger following rumours of a possibe swoop by several sides.

"No, because we are very short," said Wenger when asked whether anyone would now be allowed to go on loan following the Carling Cup exit.

Wenger told Arsenal TV Online: "We have 17 players at the moment, and you could see with the players who were on the bench at Tottenham that they should not have been on the bench there."

This quote from Wenger makes me think that maybe if the squad wasn't shortened by the injury to RVP and Eboue being in the African Nations Cup, then he would consider letting Walcott go on loan? Maybe I'm reading into it too much!!

Anyway, lets get behind the boys tomorrow and hope that our name will be in the 5th round draw! I'm sure that it will!!!!!!

Keep it Goonerish............