Middleborough’s position at the top of the Championship table has Wenger’s side braced for a tough competition. PHOTO: REUTERS
Arsenal continue their defence of the FA Cup with a home tie against lower division opposition in the fifth round but manager Arsene Wenger has promised the Gunners will not be taking Middlesbrough lightly.
Boro are currently top of the Championship and produced one of the shocks of the previous round by winning 2-0 against Premier League champions Manchester City.
Arsenal won 3-2 at Brighton and Hove Albion that weekend and Wenger admitted there would be no excuse should the Gunners fail to progress. “They are not afraid to take on the big boys,” said the Frenchman of Aitor Karanka’s side. “They are well organised, play good football and they are very creative. We won’t be surprised by them.”
Wenger confirmed goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny will be recalled and hinted at a debut for new signing Gabriel Paulista, the centre-back who joined from Villarreal last month.
Szczesny lost his place to David Ospina following a run of sub-standard performances and being caught smoking in the dressing room following a 2-0 defeat at Southampton.
The Pole played against Brighton however and Wenger said: “He is completely ready and determined to play.”
As for Gabriel, Wenger said, “He is a player who has overall good qualities: good pace, good in the air, good in one against one, but it’s best I don’t talk too much and let him play and he shows how good he is.”
Forward Alexis Sanchez may not be risked because of a knee injury and one man who will definitely play no part is midfielder Aaron Ramsey, who has been sidelined by a persistent hamstring problem that Wenger admitted was causing concern.
Jack Wilshere is back in training following ankle surgery and may play some part. “He’s motivated and focused to come back as quickly as possible,” said Wenger.
On the other hand, Middlesbrough are aiming to show that the club is ready to return to the Premier League after a six-year absence.
Karanka, who worked as assistant to Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid, has taken 15 months to turn a club that was in danger of dropping into the third tier into one capable of competing with the best sides in the country.
The 41-year-old said, “I had to change the mentality. When I came here, the players were concerned about their own performance, their own behaviour, and it was difficult to get the message across that it is all about the team.”
Middlesbrough will be without injured defender Daniel Ayala, but full-back George Friend expects to recover from a virus to take his place in the back four.
Ideye fires West Brom into last eight
Brown Ideye continued his fine recent form by scoring twice as West Bromwich Albion beat a woeful West Ham United 4-0 on Saturday to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals.
The Nigeria striker, West Brom’s £10 million record signing, scored either side of a 25-yard strike from James Morrison to take his tally to four goals in three games.
West Ham substitute Morgan Amalfitano was sent off after shoving Chris Brunt in the face and Saido Berahino added a fourth to rubber-stamp West Brom’s progression into the last eight for the first time since 2008.
Five-time winners West Brom have now won five of the eight matches since Alan Irvine was succeeded as manager by Tony Pulis, who is bidding to emulate his achievement of guiding Stoke City to the final in 2011.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 15th, 2015.
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