As we countdown to kickoff, news and updated keep rolling in, as Arsene Wenger has released a lot more statements in the buildup to the game.
Here are a couple of quotes from him on Arsenal Player;
It’s the ultimate cup tie,” said Wenger. “You face always tricky games, and on top of that, we play on a special [artificial] pitch. There are all the ingredients to make the game very interesting, but we have a good opportunity in the FA Cup and we of course want to take it, no matter what happened a few days before.
The artificial pitch concern has got me scratching my head as he has listed it as one of the three major concerns for tonight’s game.
He further added:
We will practise inside because it is an artificial pitch. It is not the same because it is a dry pitch and Sutton I have heard have a wet pitch which they water before the game and is quicker.
“The weight on the joints is different and you cannot slide to block every time so it makes football a bit different. The ball comes to you suddenly and accelerates and does not slow down like in a normal game, so we have to get used to the different speed.
The last part of the second quote above seems to have resonated with Danny Welbeck who will be missing from the game as a result of the impact the pitch could have on him.
Hence my predicted gets twigged with Theo Walcott coming in his stead. There’s no doubt in my mind he will be a big miss.
Arsene Wenger has also enjoyed a lot of support from his counterparts such as Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola and Chelsea’s Antonio Conte who have started categorically that it will be a loss for the Gunners to lose The Boss.
I can’t help but wonder if this comes from a place of healthy competition or sarcasm. Some fans hold the opinion that it is rather a case of doing their part to ensure a beatable opposition in the North London side.
Any way we cut the cake, one thing remains abundantly clear, his departure will be highly felt by all who love the game. In other news, Alexis Sanchez has taken to Instagram to quell rumors surrounding his state of mind at Arsenal.
I won’t be surprised to see him in the starting lineup as he trained with the team yesterday.
Arsenal Legend Thierry Henry has endorsed young Monaco striker, Kylian Mbappe by heaping praise on him by describing him as a player who can do anything with the ball at feet according to his sun column.
Tonight’s game should be exciting as former Gunners Craig Eastmond, Roarie Deacon, Jeffrey Monakana and Jack Jebb all play for Sutton United and half of the team support the Gunners.
Bottom line, they are Arsenal educated and used to the pitch. It is certainly going to be a hard-fought victory should the Gunners prevail as expected.
COYG!!!
