OVERHAUL Lincoln’s greight run shows the clock’s still ticking on the FA Cup
FOR REBUILDING NORTH LONDON CRISIS CLUB
THE ROMANCE in this year’s FA Cup was alive and kicking at the Clock End of the Emirates Stadium.
Nine thousand fans from Lincolnshire sang their songs, waved their banners and generally had a blast.
If you are going to enjoy a day to remember then you have to create it.
And boy, did the Impvasion go with a swing.
For while the FA are under pressure to reinvent the world’s most famous knockout competition, there is clearly life in the old girl yet, judging by the antics in the away end.
The importance of these fantastic dates on football’s calendar has been lost on many of the glitterati.
Weakened teams, dwindling attendances and falling interest among supporters, it’s importance has been diluted.
This year, the powersthat-be decided to dispense with replays at the last-eight stage. Teams can now make four substitutions if the match goes into extra time.
But the FA Cup did not need any artificial stimulation, and Lincoln’s fans did not need any viagra from the authorities to get themselves up for this.
However, that’s where the story had to end.
Arsene Wenger could not buy into the dream. He just could not afford to.
From the moment the Frenchman handed in his team-sheet to match official Anthony Taylor – the pair came face-to-face for the first time professionally since Arsenal’s boss shoved the referee in the tunnel two months ago – any such notion had to stamped upon.
There was no dewy-eyed sentimentality as far as Wenger was concerned. It was kill or be killed. If Lincoln City, yes Lincoln City, had broken open their tool box and hammered home a nail, then it would have been the final one in Wenger’s coffin.
Arsenal’s punters would not have known whether to laugh or cry. The humiliation of being a national embarrassment for a few days would, possibly, have been outweighed by the fact that the 20-year reign – that has hung like a lead weight around Wenger’s neck these past few months – would have finally dragged him under.
He could not chance that if he wanted to chase the one route to glory that is still left open to him.
Us supporters don’t count Champions League qualification. We don’t benefit from the gazillions of pounds that it brings, you see. No, Wenger had to dispense with the niceties and unleash his hounds of hell on the gallant minnows.
So the list of 11 names was as strong as the under-fire Wenger could go. All but one of his first-choice defence started. As did Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott and £34m man Granit Xhaka.
Alexis Sanchez was fit enough to face Lincoln City, but not Liverpool last week. You work that one out. By the time Imps’ skipper Luke Waterfall put through his own goal shortly before the hour, Wenger’s no-risk strategy had paid off. He lives to fight another day.
And Lincoln City’s fans sang about “coming for Wenger” and their pride in a football club that has this year won a place in the heart of every fan whose team has not fallen to Dan Cowley’s men.
Perhaps one day Arsenal’s boss will be in a position to enjoy stories like this.
But he could not be the punchline. Of all days, not yesterday.
SEE PULL-OUT