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Should Arsenal sacrifice the FA Cup for Premier League glory?
Arsenal faced Hull this weekend in the F.A Cup fifth round at The Emirates. A 0-0 draw and the prospect of a replay against the Championship side only adds to the Gunners already crowded fixture list. Whilst winning the FA Cup for a third time in a row this would be a hugely impressive feat, should Arsenal instead start prioritising the Premier League over the FA Cup?
This season has been the most wide open title race in a long time, with Arsenal in the midst of it as they fight Leicester, Tottenham and Manchester City for a first league title since 2004. A crucial last minute victory against Leicester in the most recent round of Premier League fixtures put them right back into title contention, although with some very tough games left, the squad will be stretched to its maximum in the final months of the campaign.
Along with the Premier League, they also have a very tough Champions League two-legged fixture against high-flying Barcelona, a free-scoring side that will provide stern competition for Arsenal. The first leg is on Wednesday, and if Arsenal can overcome the Spanish side, they will need to be at their absolute best. A decent run in the Champions League would add crucial fixtures to their season, and alongside their league and FA Cup aspirations, their squad depth is sure to be fully utilized in this season’s run-in.
So with an eye to future games, Arsene Wenger fielded a slightly weakened side this weekend. With Barcelona in mid-week some of the top players were rested, although Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud did feature during the second half in an effort to prevent a replay. At the moment, Arsenal are one of the favourites for this year’s FA Cup, but will the team be able to give the competition the respect it deserves, even though it will surely sit below both the Premier League and European aspirations for the remainder of the term at least?
The side that played against Hull was capable of winning the game, but if they can make it to later rounds, the competition will become more serious, only adding to the fixture congestion. Wenger has always respected the FA Cup and is rightly proud of winning the competition six times in his 20-year career at Arsenal. This is a huge achievement and should the team win it for a third successive year, the Gunners will set a record that will likely not be matched for a long time.
With this is mind, the team has a great opportunity this year, and winning the FA Cup will provide some silverware. It could be half of a double triumph for the team, but with Arsenal being in contention for the league for the first time in years, will the F.A Cup be blamed if the team don’t go on to topple Leicester City and Spurs? Fans have been waiting for a title challenge for years and with the season so finely in the balance, any minute factor could be the difference between first and third.
Arsenal still have crucial fixtures against local rivals Spurs at White Hart Lane and Manchester City at the Etihad, and these are must-wins if they want to cement themselves as title favourites. It is a tough run-in for Arsenal, and any slip up could cost them in a big way. At the moment, the team are fighting for three competitions, but Leicester have proved this season how fighting solely for the Premier League can pay off in a big way. A similar scenario took place when Liverpool went so close to winning the league a few seasons ago, as they were out of Europe for the whole year and did not make significant domestic cup progress. Should this be something Arsenal adopt for their title run in?
Winning the F.A Cup always shows it was a successful season for the club, but if it ends up costing them a first league title in over ten years, is is still ultimately worth it? Could Arsenal fans still feel happy with this season or would there still be a tinge of disappointment over the league? That is something that only time will tell. The prospect of a replay against Hull was the worst possible outcome for Arsenal right now. The last thing the club needs is more matches in the final months of the season.
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