Having consummatrly beaten Manchester City at the Etihad in Round 4, Arsenal should be under no illusions as to what they can expect when Boro roll into the Emirates on Sunday. Boro are a team in buoyant mood and sit top of the Championship currently.
They outclassed City with their counter attacking prowess and, in truth, 2-0 was not a fair reflection of their dominance. Arsenal will also do well to recall the 5th round two years ago, when Championship Blackburn visited and achieved an unlikely 1-0 victory.
The holders are likely to make a few changes, but you would think with capable players. Wojciech Szczesny will play in goal, it is likely that Gabriel will be handed a debut, whilst Kieran Gibbs should also play.
Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck were rested to the bench on Tuesday evening, so it ought not to be a ramshackle XI hastily glued together from the scrapings of the U-21s side.
Boro have a big game against Birmingham on Wednesday evening in the Championship and they also played on a heavy pitch at Bloomfield Road this Wednesday past, so it will be interesting to see whether they make a change or two.
Whether they do or not, it is likely that they will face Arsenal again next season. With Chelsea and Manchester City out of the competition, the Gunners will look upon retention of the trophy as a realistic aim.
Vital Quotes:
Arsene Wenger wants Boro’s swashbuckling win over Manchester City in round 4 to serve as a reminder for his Gunners side as they take on the Championship side at Emirates Stadium.
‘We won`t be surprised by them,” said the Arsenal manager this morning. “At least we will not have the excuse to be surprised because they beat Manchester City in a convincing way. That is a good warning for us.
“We are at home, we have a possibility to go to the quarter-finals so we cannot be surprised by them, that`s for sure. In the Championship, any team that play at the top are a danger for any Premier League team.
“They are well-organised, play good football with good pace and they are very creative. You look at their recent record in the Championship and it`s impressive. They`re on a strong run and, of course, we want to stop that.”
Boro manager Aitor Karanka insists that the Emirates will hold no fear for his high flying team, ‘I suppose the surprise element has gone now.
”We did well at Liverpool, and then with the result at Manchester City in the last round, people are getting to know about us. We’ve also gone top of the Championship as well, so I don’t think there will be any surprises for Arsenal on Sunday.
‘In the same way that Liverpool and City were dangerous, Arsenal will of course pose a threat, but we can cause them problems when they don’t have the ball. The problem for us is how to keep the ball.
‘We’ve not shown any fear against Premier League sides this season, and it will be the same against Arsenal. We want to show everyone what we can do.’
Arsenal Team News:
Arsenal will be without Aaron Ramsey for around a fortnight with a grade one hamstring strain. Alexis Sanchez is unlikely to be fit following a kick on the knee against Leicester.
Jack Wilshere is back in training, but lacks match fitness. Wojciech Szczesny will play in goal with Gabriel likely to make his debut at centre half.
Mathieu Debuchy (shoulder), Mikel Arteta (ankle), Alex Oxlade Chamberlain (thigh) and Abou Diaby (knee) are all out.
Arsenal (from); Szczesny, Gibbs, Mertesacker (c), Gabriel, Koscielny, Rosicky, Özil, Giroud, Walcott, Monreal, S.Cazorla, Flamini, Chambers, Welbeck, Martinez, Coquelin, Akpom, Bellerin.
Player to watch: Wojciech Szczesny
I wrote a little about the battle between Szczesny and Ospina here
Boro are a good attacking side so it’s unlikely he’ll be under deployed. Ospina hasn’t done anything wrong thus far, but I don’t think he’s concreted the position either. Szczesny knows that a good performance will stand him in good stead here.
Middlesbrough Team News:
Daniel Ayala will be out for two weeks with a thigh injury he picked up in Wednesday’s victory over Blackpool. Adam Forshaw is cup tied. Tomas Kalas isn’t permitted to play by parent club Chelsea.
George Friend returns from illness, Ryan Fredricks is expected to be fit. Emilio Nsue has returned from the African Cup of Nations and is ready to feature.
Middlesbrough (from); Abella, Friend, Fredericks, Gibson, Leadbitter, Clayton, Kike, Tomlin, Ledesma, Ripley, Konstantopoulos, Hines, Husband, Whitehead, Carayol, Reach, Omeruo, Bamford, Nsue, Williams, Wildschut, Woodgate(c).
Player to watch: Patrick Bamford
22 year old Bamford is on loan from Chelsea. He is a forward that has the ability to link midfield with attack, which is an especially useful weapon if Boro decide to repeat their counter attacking approach from round 4.
Bamford can finish too. Boro might reason that Arsenal are unlikely to field another unfamiliar back 5 with a debutant at centre half. Bamford will see this as a good chance to showcase his talent, with a future at Chelsea unlikely.
Match Facts & Stats
Arsenal have been drawn at home in 7 of their last 9 F.A. Cup ties. Both away ties were at Brighton & Hove Albion.
Arsenal have won all six of their home games since Manchester United defeated them 2-1 in November.
It has been 12 months since the Gunners failed to score at home.
Santi Cazorla played against Middlesbrough for Villarreal in the 2004 UEFA Cup.
Middlesbrough have the joint best defensive record in the football league alongside Shrewsbury Town.
The clubs last met in the competition in the 2004 when Arsenal defeated Boro 4-1 at Highbury.
This will be the ninth FA Cup meeting overall, and the first in any cup at the Emirates. Arsenal have won five (including the last three), Boro two, and one draw. Both Boro wins were at Ayresome Park, in 1977 and 1983.
Boro assistant Steve Agnew was Hull City’s assistant manager at last season’s F.A. Cup Final against Arsenal.
Boro have had four red cards in their last five visits to Arsenal.
Ref Watch:
Mike Dean will referee this one. Hopefully he’ll leave the pom poms and the raybans at home.
Match Prediction:
I think this will be a tough encounter, but I’m backing Arsenal to shade it 2-1. Giroud and Welbeck for Arsenal, Kike for Boro.
Next Fixtures:
Arsenal are away at Crystal Palace next Saturday at 3pm. (Saturday?! 3pm?!!! Scandal, I say!) Middlesbrough face a trip to Birmingham City on Wednesday night at 7.45pm.