Football: FA Cup key for Wenger’s Arsenal

SWANSEA: The FA Cup could be critical to Arsene Wenger’s efforts to prove he is still the right man to lead Arsenal, with the London club playing Swansea in the third round today. Eliminated from the Capital One Cup by League Two minnows Bradford and facing Bayern Munich in the last 16 of the Champions League, the FA Cup represents Arsenal’s best chance of ending their eight-year wait for silverware. An early exit though, would put increased pressure on Wenger, who admitted this is not a time to rest players. “I will play the team I think has the best chance to win the game, without considering any rotational desire,” said Wenger. “If you are not at your best, you don’t win the game.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2013.