No excuses for Arteta to not play strongest XI

 

FA Cup 3rd round day is finally here for The Arsenal.

It is our competition. We have won 4 of the last 10. And I am certainly not one of those who says “it’s only the FA Cup”. I love the tournament.

But in between those wins, we do not have great memories.

After a brilliant run under Arsene Wenger, where we had never been knocked out of 3rd round in his first 22 years, our form outside of winning has been shakey.

In his first 22-years at the club, Wenger’s Arsenal only got knocked out in the 4th round or earlier (and it was never earlier), 4 times. An incredible record. Since or 2017 win, we have made it past the 4th round just one (and went on to win it).

Wenger would almost always put out a weakened team in the early stages. His justification was that he was putting out an XI that he thought would win the game. It his view was almost proved correct. then we face Nottingham Forest away.

Not only was Forest in 2018 the first team we had been knocked out of the 3rd round, it was also the first time in decades a team from a lower division had beaten us. It was a game where we were not at the races and confirmed that Wenger’s time at Arsenal was up.

The next season, we were thrashed 3-1 at home to Manchester United, and in 2020 and much changed Arsenal team lost away tou Southampton. Both defeats coming in the 4th round.

In 2021, Mikel Arteta made a numbder of changes as we went once more to Nottingham Forest in the 3rd round. A midfield of Albert Sambi Lokonga and Charlien Patino were overwhelmed and we crashed out again. Then last season we were beaten in the 4th round by Manchester City 1-0 in a close game that we might had won had Arteta not made so many changes.

So today we face Liverpool. And if we live by Wenger’s view that we “put out a team that should win”, we need to play our strongest XI. And with a “winter break” coming up, there is not reason for Arteta to shuffle the pack.

Yes, I get Aaron Ramsdale coming in for David Raya as is the norm for almost every team in the cup. But after that it should be our strongest XI.

White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwor (if Zinchenko is out), Rice, Odegaard, Havertz, Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.

I will understand if, for example, Arteta goes for Jorginho instead of Havertz and pushes Rice wider to help make the left hand side a bit stronger defensively. But beyond that, we need to win this game.

We will not win the league this season. One point in three has left us a little too far back. The fA Cup is our best chance to lift silverware.

Hopefully Arteta respects the competition, respects Liverpool and respects the fans and puts out his first team. We need to make winning trophies the norm at Arsenal, and the cups are a good way to help build that winning habit.

Sometimes, some foreign managers just do not get what the FA Cup means to English fans.

I have seen a video of Brentford manager Thomas Frank bemoaning the fact that his team have an FA Cup replay following a home draw against Wolves.

For a start, it does annoy me when foreign managers are happy to come to England and earn the huge money they do (in comparison to what Frank would earn managing a mid-table German, Italian or French team), but then moan about the structure of our football the provides that income.

FA Cup replays are an integral part of our great game and, in the past, Brentford have benefited hugely.

Back in 2005 Brentford were £7m in debt. They drew Southampton at home in the FA Cup 4th round and earned a replay. That replay earned them £500k – a huge sum for a then League One team. Without that replay, Brentford might and went a big way to helping the Bees improve their financial situation.

Secondly, Brentford only have themselves to blame for not being able to beat Wolves at home.

Frank made 4 changes to his first team, and Wolves have a man sent off after 9 minutes. Calling for the FA Cup to scrap replays is just Frank deflecting for his and his teams failure to win a game having played 90% of it with an extra man.

If you want to manage less games, go to France or Gremany. And then take the pay cut that comes with it.

Finally, please remember there are train trikes after the game today. If you are not able to go and have not yet sold your ticket in the Ticket Exchange, please do so now! We need to make sure every seat is filled!