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Arsenal
Arsenal ended their Premiership goal drought last time out when they beat West Brom 3-1, and in all honesty, should have won by more. Nicklas Bendtner, for once, stepped up to the plate and Andrei Arshavin put in another mesmerizing performance. Arsenal now welcome the visit of Burnley in this FA Cup 5th Round tie knowing the FA Cup is their most realistic chance of silverware this season. Arsenal have won 7 of their last 11 home matches in all competitions, drawing the other 4, with no losses. In the FA Cup 4th Round, Arsenal walloped Cardiff City by 4 goals, and if Arsenal are in the mood again today, Burnley should prove no contest. Burnley come into this one wearing the tag that reads “good in cup competitions”. Burnley’s run to the Carling Cup semi-final was breathtaking, and they almost secured a final place until the very last moment. In the League Championship, they are just 1 place shy of a playoff place, but with a game in hand. They will feel they are in with a fighting chance against the Gunners, especially with no away losses on their last 3 travels. Taking this tie into a second match might just be within reach for them, if they are able to hold out the Gunners.
Player Injuries
It is late in the season, and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger finally has something to smile about. Theo Walcott is set to return following a shoulder injury which kept him out for 4 months. He could make the bench and be set for a late cameo appearance. Eduardo and William Gallas could be included as well, so Wenger only has Kolo Toure, Mikael Silvestre, Tomas Rosicky, Francesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Adebayor out now. Even though a lot of people expect Andrei Arshavin to play, I think he could see bench time in this one as Wenger goes easy on his new recruit. That means Nicklas Bendtner could get a reward for his 2 goals scored last time out and partner Robin Van Persie in attack. For Burnley boss Owen Coyle, he has to do without Middlesbrough loanee, full-back Rhys Williams, as he is cuptied having played for Middlesbrough in the FA Cup already this season. Michael Duff is to serve a suspension. Coyle will welcome back Brian Jensen, Kevin McDonald and Martin Paterson for this game though. Paterson has been Burnley’s top scorer this season, followed closely but Steven Thompson, and I feel if they are able to just sneak Burnley one goal, then they might make a palatable punt on the handicap. However, I feel chances of that happening are slim at best.
Prediction
Arsenal will be pumped to progress, and having Robin Van Persie fresh and fit for this one having been rested in the match against West Brom is a real bonus. The Gunners have now kept 9 cleansheets in their last 11 games at the Emirates in all competitions – the only two teams managing to score against Arsenal during this period were Liverpool and Plymouth Argyle. They have kept a cleansheet in each of their last 6 home games, and come into this match set to make that 7 in a row. Arsenal’s last 3 home games in the FA Cup have all resulted in 2-or-more-goals wins, and I am convinced they will be making it 4 in a row. It has now been 13 years since Arsenal last lost to a lower league opposition in the FA Cup – in 1996, they went down 0-1 against Sheffield United at Brammall Lane in a 3rd Round reply. All of these facts only point to another fact-to-be, and that is that Arsenal will secure progression into the next round with relative ease, especially at home. Burnley are no doubt the giantkillers in England this season, be it in the Carling Cup or the FA Cup, but such a run must come to an end sooner or later, and up against an Arsenal side boosted by the return of several first-team regulars, I think the best Burnley could hope for is a respectable loss.
My Prediction: Arsenal -1.25
Source: Fate85
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