On paper it looks like Alexis Sánchez, Olivier Giroud and Co. have pretty much wrapped up their defence of the FA Cup. Having already completed their respective league matches with an aggregate score of eight goals to nil against their cup final opponents, Arsenal should, in theory, be able to relax and concentrate on their last few league games, and cementing their Champions League qualification this year without the need for an irksome August play-off by finishing higher than fourth. Nine straight wins, second in the league, it's all smelling of roses in North London, and yet somewhere in the depths of memory lingers something dark, something pernicious, insidious, creeping within the psyche and toying with niggling doubts, doubts which seem to scarcely have a place in any perceivable scenario based on logic or empirical evidence.
Is it the error from Reading's hapless goalkeeper Adam Federici on the hallowed Wembley turf which rings vague bells of recognition for the Arsenal fans? A recollection of something which can haunt not just a player, but a team and its supporters in their entirety for years to come, suddenly made far more corporeal by its apparent re-manifestation, albeit this time in their favour, almost as if to say, "Guess who's coming to dinner?!" in a whispered voice much favoured by the villa(i)nous Baron Silas Greenback, designed to instil fear, dread, and irrationality in equal measure. Or is it that, not so long ago at all, visitors from that distant land to the north known as Birmingham, masterminded a smash and grab job at Wembley so effective George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Matt Damon considered pooling their resources to buy Birmingham City FC just so they could rename them Ocean's 11!
In truth, it's probably all of the above and more. Arsene Wenger is persisting with playing his second choice keeper in a competition which is the club's only chance of silverware and again on Saturday Szczęsny looked more than a little shaky. Playing a left-back and a right-back who were lacking match fitness almost backfired, and omitting Giroud from a game which, given his form, could well have been all over by half time had his presence been on the pitch, just seems like pig headedness. Danny Welbeck is not an Arsenal player. He's simply not good enough. And then there is the fact that for the last three games now at Wembley, Arsenal have not really turned up. Saturday they were devoid of ideas until Giroud replaced Welbeck, and looked nothing like a team having won eight straight Premier League games playing a team fighting for survival in the Championship. Last year's final against Hull they were down 0-2 after eight minutes, and required penalties against Wigan the match before just to get there.
And then, there's the fact that this Aston Villa team is no Birmingham City. They're not a Championship side as Birmingham were/are, and they're resurgent under the leadership of Tim Sherwood, having recently beaten a Tottenham side who are the last team to beat Arsenal in the league. 30 years ago in school yard logic that would've been proof that Villa are better than the Gunners and thus enough for Villa fans be certain of victory, but armed with a back in form Christian Benteke scoring nine in his last seven games and Grealish and Delph playing out of their skins Villa look a million miles in front of where they were at when Arsenal thumped them 5-0 at the Emirates, back in February before Sherwood's Valentines day appointment began this FA Cup romance.
However, it is a game a fully prepared full strength Arsenal squad should win. That much is inescapable. But then... so is destiny. With everything to gain and nothing to lose it's not hard to see how circumstances and hard work could make Sherwood and Co. immortalised as heroes and immortalised Villans at the same time. I'm not sure expectant Gunners would see the funny side though.
Source: DSG
