Wigan expected in FA Cup, Big Per leaves and Chelsea loom on the horizon tomorrow – Suburban Gooners

So last night we heard about our opponents in the next round of the FA Cup, with Wigan confirmed as visitors to the Emirates in February, which brings back all sorts of memories for me.

The first was that horrible FA Cup semi-final in 2014. At the start we were the favourites, we were by far the better team on paper, but it was a game where the team felt the weight of expectation, I think. We hadn’t won anything for years, everyone in the media kept reminding us, so the team created a bit of a shock, now relying on Academy Director (but not for long) Big Per Mertesacker to head home in the 81st minute to take the match into extra time. We qualified on penalties and, as we all know, won the final after going 2-0 down to Hull. Even though the season as a whole ended with joy and silverware, this particular match should be forgotten forever. We weren’t great, that’s for sure.

The next Wigan game that comes to mind is one in which Emmanuel Ebour put up one of the biggest stinkers of all time, ending up being substituted, after replacing Nasri in the first half. We won the match 1-0, but the home crowd booed Eboué. While it wasn’t exactly the best moment for the home fans, he did indeed put in one of the worst performances ever. Even Wenger later referred to it, saying: “Eboué played longer than I wanted. His concentration dropped a little.”

For this final trip down memory lane, I will remember the wonderful goal Denny Landzaat scored at the Emirates in 2007. I was there and in the Clock End Upper that day (although I don’t think it was called that back then) and I was completely in tune with what was a pretty special finish. It looked like Wigan were going to do a little smash and catch that day, as we huffed and puffed, but we couldn’t feel any joy. But our old friend Own Goal tied us at 81, before Rosicky won it for us at 85, to finally make me happy.

I recounted three uncomfortable games there, but our record against Wigan is pretty good, to be honest, with the Latics having only beaten us three times home and away in the head-to-head records. So if you watch this game now, it really feels like this is a game that Arsenal should win in. Wigan are currently 15th in League One, having won seven, lost eight and drawn nine of their league matches so far this season. They are level on points with Exeter – who have just lost 10-1 to 115 Charges FC – and one point above Barnsley, who lost to Liverpool last night. So it has to be a game that Arteta will see as a large-scale rotation opportunity, I would have thought.

It will be played on February 14 or 15, between Brentford away and The Scum at home eight days later, which – I’m sure – will mean Arteta can move his playing pieces around a bit and shuffle his pack slightly (sorry for the mixed metaphors!) between what will be two difficult away trips to the Premier League.

I think from a rotation standpoint, it’s good. Personally I wouldn’t mind going away for a bit, but the further you go in this competition the more likely you are to get that, so maybe given the volume of games we have in the next four to six weeks it will be beneficial to have this home game against an opponent that will allow for a rotation more like the one we just saw this weekend against Portsmouth.

The other news yesterday was that our old friend Big Per Mertesacker had announced his departure from the club at the end of the season. The club released a statement last night and I thought it was really interesting to see the response online. I thought this would be an almost universal disappointment for a guy who was such a good player for us, who had been in the back office for eight years, who so many people speak so highly of as being a nice guy, bringing a ‘human’ side to the academy. Still, I heard some voices saying we could do better. Maybe that’s true. I don’t think anyone can say that our approach to the loan system has been particularly well executed, with other clubs like City, Liverpool and Chelsea using it and then trading players for tidy sums. We haven’t really done that yet from the academy, so maybe the next person who comes in will be on a mission to turn the academy into a bit more of a cash cow, but I’ll always remember Big Per as a guy who represented Arsenal well and was a good servant to the club.

Fast forward to now, and it will be Mikel Arteta holding his press conference today and after seeing Liam Rosenior do his yesterday, it will be interesting to see how Arteta speaks on this one. In my head I thought Arteta would undertake more rotations tomorrow night, but looking at the way Rosenior was speaking I guess not. He talked about how they can’t play Caicedo because of the suspension (Mikel Merino’s ankles are grateful), but also how they would call on James and Cole Palmer and I think that gives you an idea of ​​the type of team that will line up tomorrow – they will be strong. Will Mikel be just as strong? That’s what I think we’re all excited to find out.

I think at this point you’ll probably have to, but I’ll save my thoughts on a possible team selection until tomorrow when we hear from the manager.

Until then, I think I’ll leave you for today and catch up with you tomorrow for a preview of the match.