Arsenal News

Wenger Turns Back the Clock as FA Cup Final Awaits

Like an old-school dad trying on his first pair of jeans, Arsene Wenger has relented for the first time since his spectacled, waist-height jacket days to implement a 3-4-3 system that is seemingly in vogue this season.

It was in May 1997, when Olive were top of the charts with ‘You’re Not Alone’ and Derby County fans were bidding farewell to the Baseball Ground, that Wenger was last tempted by a three-pronged defensive back-line.

In a match where Tony Adams saw red after just 13 minutes, Dennis Bergkamp’s sublime chip remains the stand-out moment of a day where Arsenal secured a third-placed finish.

Arsenal News

FA Cup must be Arsene’s priority

After making it through to the quarter-final of the FA Cup courtesy of a 4-0 victory in a replay away to Hull City, Arsenal remain on course to defend the trophy once again. They have the hope of winning the cup for the third consecutive year, something which has not been done in this tournament since Blackburn Rovers in 1886.

Arsenal have recently dropped points in games against Manchester United, Swansea City and Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League which means they are at the time of writing eight points behind leaders Leicester in the table and three adrift of North London rivals Spurs.

Arsenal News

Next up in the cup: Hull City

It’s fair to say that Arsenal know all about their FA Cup fifth round opponents, Hull City, given the recent history between the two sides.

Despite Hull’s relegation to the Championship at the end of last season, a number of clashes against the Tigers remain fresh in the memory for Arsenal fans – and most of those memories are happy ones for the Gunners.

This season’s cup tie against Hull will be Arsenal’s fourth in the last seven years, and the previous three saw the Gunners victorious on each occasion. Most recently, Per Mertesacker and Alexis Sanchez scored the decisive goals in a third round clash at the Emirates just over a year ago – a repeat of the previous season’s FA Cup final.

Arsenal News

The future looks bright after FA Cup success

Arsenal made history on Saturday, winning the FA Cup for a record 12th time. They began their 2012/13 campaign one cup win behind rivals Manchester United, but after successful cup runs in two consecutive seasons, they now boast unmatched success in the competition.

This past week has revealed a darker side to football, with the events in Zurich dominating the media. Saturday’s cup final helped to reinstall faith in the beautiful game with an honest display of passion from the fans, players and managers. Just less than 90,000 supporters descended on Wembley Stadium to witness Arsenal completely outclass Aston Villa in what turned out to be one of the most one-sided cup finals in recent years.