FA Cup Semi Final: Wigan vs Arsenal, ITV1, 17:07

Alfred Borden

Champions Wigan face plucky underdogs Arsenal.

Prediction: 1-2

Nuri Sahin

Can't see anything but an easy Arsenal win.

MayoSalmon

Arsenal in disarray

Wigan easy win 3-0

Guy:Incognito

7 minutes past 5 is an odd kick off time.

Alfred Borden

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

7 minutes past 5 is an odd kick off time.

its to mark the anniversary of Hillsborough

Diabhal Beag

Hard to look past as Wigan win here. They really had the easier draw.

Guy:Incognito

Raf32 wrote: »

its to mark the anniversary of Hillsborough

Ah. Hadn't realised they were doing that.

efb

Come on Arsenal, on a sombre note sad to think of those fans that went to see their team play in the FA Cup Semi Final and never got home. The subsequent cover up by the Yorkshire Police Force was disgusting. JFT96

extra gravy

Some stats

(stolen from here http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/fa-league-cups/fa-cup-semifinal-wigan-v-arsenal-match-preview-9254662.html)


Arsenal and Wigan have never met in the FA Cup, at any stage.

Last year’s FA Cup win was Wigan’s first ever major trophy, after over 80 years.

Wigan haven’t lost in their previous 12 FA Cup games

The last time Arsenal won at Wembley was 1999, when they beat AIK Solna in the Champions League group stage. They have never won at the new stadium.

This is Arsenal’s 27th FA Cup semi-final, a record they share with Manchester United. They have won 17 of the previous 26.

The last three times that Sheffield United have reached the FA Cup semi-finals, Arsenal have gone on to win the cup.

Mr.Micro

Come on the gunners.

Alfred Borden

Team tomorrow according to John Cross is
Fabianski, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Cazorla, Chamberlain, Podolski, Sanogo

I really like that team

Mickeroo

Raf32 wrote: »

Team tomorrow according to John Cross is
Fabianski, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Cazorla, Chamberlain, Podolski, Sanogo

I really like that team

I'm glad to see Fab keep his spot if that's true, only fair since he's been in goals for the previous cup matches, even if he is off in the summer.

Would be a nice day for Sanogo get off the mark.

The_Kew_Tour

Im going to go for the mother of all shocks and go 2-0 Arsenal

Oranage2

Nervous bout this one, it wouldn't be beyond arsenal bottling this.

Wigans form isn't great coming into this match but it looks like they've rested some players and took others off at half time in their mid week game.

Arsenal might have some key players back from injury but I think they won't be ready.


Going for an arsenal win 3 - 2

EuropeanSon

Ramsey to remind us of what we've been missing. 2-0, with at least 1 goal or assist from him.

keano_afc

Can see another upset on the cards here. 2-0 to Arsenal.

On a side note, delighted Fabianski is starting. Whoever gets him in the summer is getting a brilliant keeper.

tayto lover

I can see Wigan really getting stuck into Arsenal from the start.
Hope our lads are up for this. Have been shocking recently.

bad2dabone

Ox says we've got a duty to win the cup. Hope the rest of the lads feel like that.

cson

Wigan are getting a backlash today I feel. There'll be two clear goals between the sides imo.

dobsdave

3-0 Arsenal win, all first half goals.

Arsenal: Fabianski - Sagna Mertesacker Vermaelen Monreal - Arteta Ramsey - Ox-Chamberlain Cazorla Podolski - Sanogo

A somewhat mobile team, yay.

Alfred Borden

AdamD wrote: »

Arsenal: Fabianski - Sagna Mertesacker Vermaelen Monreal - Arteta Ramsey - Ox-Chamberlain Cazorla Podolski - Sanogo

A somewhat mobile team, yay.

John Cross was right, love that team actually. No passengers upfront

tayto lover

Raf32 wrote: »

John Cross was right, love that team actually. No passengers upfront

We're weak down our left flank though.
We've been caught out a lot with this pair recently.

Alfred Borden

tayto lover wrote: »

We're weak down our left flank though.
We've been caught out a lot with this pair recently.

Ramsey will cover so much ground he should help over that side. Delighted to see two proper wingers with santi as the #10. Arteta has been poor recently but him and ramsey is our best pairing in the middle and at least we have someone upfront who can move about. Goal would do him wonders today but if not Giroud could be fresh to come on and nick a goal.

greendom

And the bench
Arsenal subs: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Gibbs, Kallstrom, Akpom, Eisfeld, Giroud #AFCvWAFC

No Rosicky ?

Spanish Johnny

tayto lover wrote: »

We're weak down our left flank though.
We've been caught out a lot with this pair recently.

Agree with ya there Tayto. Will see a lot of Wigan down that side. I suppose the idea will be that we have most of the ball.

Happy enough with the rest. We look more threatening and mobile going forward.

greendom

Raf32 wrote: »

Ramsey will cover so much ground he should help over that side. Delighted to see two proper wingers with santi as the #10. Arteta has been poor recently but him and ramsey is our best pairing in the middle and at least we have someone upfront who can move about. Goal would do him wonders today but if not Giroud could be fresh to come on and nick a goal.

A la Everton

super_furry

I'd like to see Arsenal lift the cup because I think Wenger will be off in the summer either way. Would be a nice way for him to leave.

bad2dabone

Only an hour to go, excited!

SlickRic

Ox and Ramsey in equals pace and guile.

Arsenal will win handily.

efb

Me nerves! Where's me Xanax!?!

super_furry

efb wrote: »

Me nerves! Where's me Xanax!?!

Think he's on the bench.

efb

super_furry wrote: »

Think he's on the bench.

He's a calming influence I hope he's on early

efb

ITV 1 time! Adrian Chiles, urgh

bad2dabone

Wem ber lee!

wandatowell

Sanogo to make 5 swings and 4 misses

bad2dabone

Yaya is going to score today . I feel it in my waters

Marty McFly

Nerves shot, pressure on in the league. Were due a good day and a good performance.

TimeToShine

Ramsey looks like he means business.

tayto lover

Marty McFly wrote: »

Nerves shot, pressure on in the league. Were due a good day and a good performance.

I'm afraid you only get what you deserve in football.
Hope we are focused and up for the battle.
No lazy players and hide and seek merchants.

Loads of players driving into the box, better keep this up.

Royale with Cheese

Look at all those empty seats, and I couldn't get a ticket to this game.

bad2dabone

We look up for it

Lapin

Whats with all the empty seats?

Good seats too.

IvySlayer

Lapin wrote: »

Whats with all the empty seats?

Good seats too.

There's a lot, 96 have been deliberately left empty with Liverpool scarfs for Hillsborough but I don't know if they are the ones people are talking about

bad2dabone

Lovely football, great save

Marty McFly

I'm liking Sanogo in this game so far.

F*cking hell Sanogo!

Gotta do better than that!

bad2dabone

[Deleted User] wrote: »

F*cking hell Sanogo!

Gotta do better than that!

Headed it down with power, unlucky I think

tayto lover

Deleted User wrote: »

F*cking hell Sanogo!

Gotta do better than that!

He didn't do much wrong in fairness.

Mickeroo

IvySlayer wrote: »

There's a lot, 96 have been deliberately left empty with Liverpool scarfs for Hillsborough but I don't know if they are the ones people are talking about

Those are in one section, there's loads of empty ones scattered elsewhere.