Manchester City (N) | FA Cup SF | Sun 23 Apr 15:00

[Redarmy]

Can enjoy our semi final a bit more now that the nightmare scenario of playing sp*rs in the final has been avoided. City are as inconsistent as we are so this could go either way.

City are no great team....they are beatable

[Gunner Rob]

The sad fact is that we have little chance of beating City and that is why we want Wenger out!
Even if we scrape a draw then City will beat us in extra time or penalties.
This team is not good enough to compete with the top teams - just remember what we have watched for the past few weeks...

[northbank123]

The sad fact is that we have little chance of beating City and that is why we want Wenger out!
Even if we scrape a draw then City will beat us in extra time or penalties.
This team is not good enough to compete with the top teams - just remember what we have watched for the past few weeks...

City are a slightly better version of us and it's very generous to describe them as a "top team".

You say about remembering the last few weeks - don't forget the game against this lot. They did their usual which is to turn up for 20 minutes and if they don't do enough to win the game in that spell then they really struggle.

They will probably beat us but I think people are going a bit over the top putting them on a pedestal.

[Clash]

The sad fact is that we have little chance of beating City and that is why we want Wenger out!
Even if we scrape a draw then City will beat us in extra time or penalties.
This team is not good enough to compete with the top teams - just remember what we have watched for the past few weeks...

City are a slightly better version of us and it's very generous to describe them as a "top team".

You say about remembering the last few weeks - don't forget the game against this lot. They did their usual which is to turn up for 20 minutes and if they don't do enough to win the game in that spell then they really struggle.

They will probably beat us but I think people are going a bit over the top putting them on a pedestal.

Agree with all that mate.

If Kompany and (and maybe Jesus) are back for Man C then they'll be a better team than the one that played us a few weeks ago but I still think they have too many flaws to be called a 'top team'.

Interesting that BT Sport are billing this as 'Goliath v Goliath' Yeah that's right Arsene ... it's only you that makes us ever makes us into a David.

It is infuriating that the lowering of standards and expectations that Wenger is responsible for has become the very thing that keeps protecting him.

Arsenal are one of the Goliath's of English football and we were long before you came along Wenger.

[Bob Bayliss]

It defies all logic to suggest that if we won today we would avoid being beaten (possibly humiliated) by Chelsea in the final.

Let's suspend reality and imagine we could win both matches: it then defies all logic to suggest that would not remove what must still be a realistic hope of getting rid of him at the end of the season: - there is clearly still a battle going on at board level, it is not yet a done deal.

If you disagree with this cold, hard, analysis - that's fine. But I am not going to get seduced by the faux excitement of "oooooh, it's a cup semi-final" which we've reached by beating the mighty Sutton and LIncoln. I want my club back - we won't stand a chance of getting it back for years to come by winning the FA Cup this season. And I would much, much rather lose a semi-final to City than a final to Chelsea.

[northbank123]

Don't buy into the "battle at board level".

Believe that Gazidis may well want him out but don't believe for a minute that the offer for him to stay isn't currently there. Or that he wouldn't have taken it if he wants to stay and is worried it could have been withdrawn.

Can't see that we would beat Chelsea in the final though.

[Retro Gunner]

Just to repeat what I said a few days ago, I expect us to lose, but given the unpredictability of City and to an extent us (although we've been predictably crap for months), I wouldn't be surprised if we nicked it. So, we could we'll lose 3 or 4 nil, or win 2-1.

Fascinated by the debate on here concerning whether the WOB should want a loss to heighten pressure on Il Duce. I perfectly understand that many can't go as far as hoping we'll lose any game, let alone an FA Cup semi final. My personal opinion is that it's a misguided view and that the short term pain of current losses, is worth the long term gain. That said, I won't criticise those that don't agree with that and it's an outrage that supporters of our great Club have found themselves in the invidious position of having to consider such a thing.

However, those that say that a win will make no difference to Wenger's staying or going (and that's the stance of most who will be hoping for a win today) are wrong. I have no doubt that he's staying, regardless of the result of every match between now and the season's end, but there's only one thing that will eventually see Wenger gone and that is consistently poor results. Every loss chips away at his secure position and whether it takes a month, 6 months, or two years, eventually the worm will turn.

What we saw between 2006 and 2015, despite a clear trend of decline, was the Old Fraud just doing enough season....muddling through to pinch 4th place on the last day etc, to maintain a modicum of hope for the masses and an excuse for the board. I've said before that his luck is up and he won't be muddling through anymore. Winning today and / or getting 4th place (it ain't happening), would merely provide more of the same. Losing enough games and clear, inexcusable failure, is the only way he'll eventually. So for those saying a win or loss today makes no difference, well, it won't make a difference immediately, but it's a vital part of the process towards staying, or eventually going. It's naive to think otherwise.

[Bob Bayliss]

Just to repeat what I said a few days ago, I expect us to lose, but given the unpredictability of City and to an extent us (although we've been predictably crap for months), I wouldn't be surprised if we nicked it. So, we could we'll lose 3 or 4 nil, or win 2-1.

Fascinated by the debate on here concerning whether the WOB should want a loss to heighten pressure on Il Duce. I perfectly understand that many can't go as far as hoping we'll lose any game, let alone an FA Cup semi final. My personal opinion is that it's a misguided view and that the short term pain of current losses, is worth the long term gain. That said, I won't criticise those that don't agree with that and it's an outrage that supporters of our great Club have found themselves in the invidious position of having to consider such a thing.

However, those that say that a win will make no difference to Wenger's staying or going (and that's the stance of most who will be hoping for a win today) are wrong. I have no doubt that he's staying, regardless of the result of every match between now and the season's end, but there's only one thing that will eventually see Wenger gone and that is consistently poor results. Every loss chips away at his secure position and whether it takes a month, 6 months, or two years, eventually the worm will turn.

What we saw between 2006 and 2015, despite a clear trend of decline, was the Old Fraud just doing enough season....muddling through to pinch 4th place on the last day etc, to maintain a modicum of hope for the masses and an excuse for the board. I've said before that his luck is up and he won't be muddling through anymore. Winning today and / or getting 4th place (it ain't happening), would merely provide more of the same. Losing enough games and clear, inexcusable failure, is the only way he'll eventually. So for those saying a win or loss today makes no difference, well, it won't make a difference immediately, but it's a vital part of the process towards staying, or eventually going. It's naive to think otherwise.

Absolutely spot on. Make no mistake, he would have gone three years ago had we not scraped the Cup Final. Let there not be a glimmer of a get-out-of-jail card for TOF.

[Clash]

Just to repeat what I said a few days ago, I expect us to lose, but given the unpredictability of City and to an extent us (although we've been predictably crap for months), I wouldn't be surprised if we nicked it. So, we could we'll lose 3 or 4 nil, or win 2-1.

Fascinated by the debate on here concerning whether the WOB should want a loss to heighten pressure on Il Duce. I perfectly understand that many can't go as far as hoping we'll lose any game, let alone an FA Cup semi final. My personal opinion is that it's a misguided view and that the short term pain of current losses, is worth the long term gain. That said, I won't criticise those that don't agree with that and it's an outrage that supporters of our great Club have found themselves in the invidious position of having to consider such a thing.

However, those that say that a win will make no difference to Wenger's staying or going (and that's the stance of most who will be hoping for a win today) are wrong. I have no doubt that he's staying, regardless of the result of every match between now and the season's end, but there's only one thing that will eventually see Wenger gone and that is consistently poor results. Every loss chips away at his secure position and whether it takes a month, 6 months, or two years, eventually the worm will turn.

What we saw between 2006 and 2015, despite a clear trend of decline, was the Old Fraud just doing enough season....muddling through to pinch 4th place on the last day etc, to maintain a modicum of hope for the masses and an excuse for the board. I've said before that his luck is up and he won't be muddling through anymore. Winning today and / or getting 4th place (it ain't happening), would merely provide more of the same. Losing enough games and clear, inexcusable failure, is the only way he'll eventually. So for those saying a win or loss today makes no difference, well, it won't make a difference immediately, but it's a vital part of the process towards staying, or eventually going. It's naive to think otherwise.

I think you make some fair points there Retro. There are so many grey areas at the moment.

For me, top of my list of priorities is a new manager. That comes before anything else. Before a new owner and before winning the FA Cup or finishing top 4, above Spurs etc.

It does make me smile though when I see people in one breath saying they dont want us finishing in the top 4 ... but in the next breath saying they could never want the team to lose. How exactly do you get your wish to not finish in the top 4 without losing? In other words saying you dont want top 4 is effectively the same as saying you want the team to lose .... but dressed up in a different way .... and in a way that doesn't break the taboo of admitting to yourself or others that you want to see your own team lose.

I think I am prepared to see the team lose rather than actually wanting it to happen. And I have definitely felt that some victories in recent years have come with a very heavy price.

I just pine for the days when it was so much more straightforward and simple. When winning was great and losing was sickening.

[markyp]

It defies all logic to suggest that if we won today we would avoid being beaten (possibly humiliated) by Chelsea in the final.

Let's suspend reality and imagine we could win both matches: it then defies all logic to suggest that would not remove what must still be a realistic hope of getting rid of him at the end of the season: - there is clearly still a battle going on at board level, it is not yet a done deal.

If you disagree with this cold, hard, analysis - that's fine. But I am not going to get seduced by the faux excitement of "oooooh, it's a cup semi-final" which we've reached by beating the mighty Sutton and LIncoln. I want my club back - we won't stand a chance of getting it back for years to come by winning the FA Cup this season. And I would much, much rather lose a semi-final to City than a final to Chelsea.

this ^

[SteveO 35]

Three at the back again ! What could possibly go wrong after we nailed mighty Middlesbrough with the same formation

[Babu]

It does make me smile though when I see people in one breath saying they dont want us finishing in the top 4 ... but in the next breath saying they could never want the team to lose. How exactly do you get your wish to not finish in the top 4 without losing? In other words saying you dont want top 4 is effectively the same as saying you want the team to lose .... but dressed up in a different way .... and in a way that doesn't break the taboo of admitting to yourself or others that you want to see your own team lose.

I think I am prepared to see the team lose rather than actually wanting it to happen. And I have definitely felt that some victories in recent years have come with a very heavy price.

I just pine for the days when it was so much more straightforward and simple. When winning was great and losing was sickening.

If Wenger is in charge next season I want The Arsenal to draw every game in the League 0-0

That would make the crowds vanish, ST renewals would be tricky, and we would be battling relegation

Today I want a 0-0, dull, boring football, and a 0-0 in extra-time, with no-one scoring a penalty and everyone agreeing to just give the Cup to Chelsea, with no FA Cup FInal for the Chavs to be able to enjoy and then to celebrate.

Win-win for everyone?

[SteveO 35]

In my opinion the team he has picked for today's game has just extinguished any lingering hopes I had of winning the game. The Ox in the wing back role against a team who play out and out wingers and attack with pace is destined for failure, whilst the utterly gormless and hopeless Xhaka and Ramsey will be completely outbossed by their midfield

Its Goodnight Vienna I'm afraid, and will be delighted to be proven wrong of course

[Gunner Rob]

Three at the back again ! What could possibly go wrong after we nailed mighty Middlesbrough with the same formation

This is typical Wenger - we beat anyone and then he just plays the same team again in the next match!

We only just scraped past Boro and don't forget Bournemouth yesterday beat them 4-0!

Like I said earlier it is not a question of whether it would be nice to win or lose - we are not going to have a choice, we WILL lose.

Wenger Out

[Clash]

It does make me smile though when I see people in one breath saying they dont want us finishing in the top 4 ... but in the next breath saying they could never want the team to lose. How exactly do you get your wish to not finish in the top 4 without losing? In other words saying you dont want top 4 is effectively the same as saying you want the team to lose .... but dressed up in a different way .... and in a way that doesn't break the taboo of admitting to yourself or others that you want to see your own team lose.

I think I am prepared to see the team lose rather than actually wanting it to happen. And I have definitely felt that some victories in recent years have come with a very heavy price.

I just pine for the days when it was so much more straightforward and simple. When winning was great and losing was sickening.

If Wenger is in charge next season I want The Arsenal to draw every game in the League 0-0

That would make the crowds vanish, ST renewals would be tricky, and we would be battling relegation

Today I want a 0-0, dull, boring football, and a 0-0 in extra-time, with no-one scoring a penalty and everyone agreeing to just give the Cup to Chelsea, with no FA Cup FInal for the Chavs to be able to enjoy and then to celebrate.

Win-win for everyone?

haha

After the last 10 years that still sounds like exciting times to me

In my opinion the team he has picked for today's game has just extinguished any lingering hopes I had of winning the game. The Ox in the wing back role against a team who play out and out wingers and attack with pace is destined for failure, whilst the utterly gormless and hopeless Xhaka and Ramsey will be completely outbossed by their midfield

Its Goodnight Vienna I'm afraid, and will be delighted to be proven wrong of course

Those two would give Morrow and Selley a run for their money for our greatest central midfield combination.