When FA cup weekend comes round, football enthusiasts are always looking out and hoping for a cup upset. This weekend was no different as the 5th round of this year’s competition was on display with plenty of potential cup giant killings on offer. The shock of the day was found at the Emirates when Championship side Blackburn against all odds recorded a famous 1-0 win over Arsenal.
Following relegation from the Premier League last season, this campaign has been almost equally as miserable for Rovers, who find themselves 8th in the Championship and already being managed by the 5th different manager just this season (including 2 care-taker managers.) That said things have improved since Michael Appleton’s appointment – even so no one expected him to be capable of leading his Blackburn side through the 5th round of the cup at the Emirates.
Prior to the match many Arsenal fans believed that this was the best chance they had to put an end to the on-going depressive 7 year haul of without a trophy since moving from the trophy decorated Highbury to the new and improved Emirates Stadium. However, Blackburn forward Collin-Kazim Richard’s 72nd minute strike bounced off the post and into the net stunning the home support. Arsenal had no response and not even the 5 minutes of added on time was enough to save them, causing them to exit the cup and leave their chances of silverware this season very slim.
It’s no surprise that the result has brought lots of pressure on manger Arsene Wenger who was knocked out the FA cup by lower league opposition for the very first time in his career. His reign in charge was in question following the full time whistle with many angry Arsenal fans wondering why big names players were left out the starting line-up – such as Walcott, Wilshire, Cazorla and Podolski. Ironically when Wenger did feel it necessary to turn to his stars bringing on Wilshire Walcott and Cazorla all at the same time the score was 0-0 and it was less than a minute late when Colin-Kazim broke the dead lock.
For Blackburn their cup dream continues as they have been given a quarter final cup tie away to Millwall, managing to avoid one of the remaining Premier Leagues big teams in the draw. Arsenal on the other hand will now have to shake off the defeat and focus all their attention to Tuesday night in attempt to save their season when the face Bayern Munich in the Champions League which is the only remaining trophy that they can possibly win.
