Lincoln City’s fairytale FA Cup run ended at the quarter-final stage as Arsenal put aside their own problems to crush the fifth-tier side 5-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
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The attacking midfielder also missed Arsenal’s midweek clash with German giants Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League clash in London.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes UEFA must introduce video replay technology or they will soon face lawsuits from broadcasters and fans. For a club whose record signings, Dean Walling and Tony Battersby, each cost £75,000 in 1997 and 1978, respectively, that is quite a sum.
The result means the Gunners will play at Wembley in the semi-finals of the FA Cup on the weekend of April 22/23, but Wenger was in no mood to look that far ahead after today’s game.
“I’m so long in the game, I can not tell you what will happen”. People brainwash you with what they think is right.
Either they finish in the top four or they win the FA Cup.
The once devoted fans have turned against him after their humiliating 5-1 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
“For us it was important to be focussed and not make a mistake”.
“Maybe 30 years ago, the guy who lost a game has one ¬journalist who went with the players to the pub and had a beer after”. I let other people judge my performances, I always did that.
We have got a good, united group, a determined group, he said. Of course Arsenal should win against opponents four divisions below them but how can you bank on them at these odds after losing five of their last seven matches?
They continued to dominate early in the second half and made it 2-0 in the 53rd minute, Hector Bellerin playing a neat one-two with Sanchez before cutting the ball back for Giroud, who made up for a clumsy attempt moments earlier by stroking the ball home confidently.
Arsene Wenger has expressed his surprise at transfer speculation suggesting that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could leave Arsenal in the summer.
“There were talks with the people in charge of Arsenal, but I am now concentrating on the current season, just like the leaders of Arsenal”.
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Theo Walcott’s first half stoppage-time shot gave Arsenal the lead at the break agaonst Lincolm City.
