City Ground trip bound to hurt banned boss Wenger
ARSENE WENGER admits today will be a day of ‘hurt’ as he watches Arsenal begin their FA Cup defence from a distance.
Wenger serves the first match of a three-game touchline ban at Nottingham Forest, issued due to his behaviour in the referee’s changing room after last Sunday’s league draw at West Bromwich Albion.
The Arsenal boss still insists his actions were nothing extraordinary, compared to what he has seen in 21 years of Premier League management, but he has accepted the ban.
‘It always hurts me not to sit on the bench and be with my team,’ said Wenger.
Wenger will also miss the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea on Wednesday and league clash with Bournemouth on Sunday.
He will select today’s team but will not be allowed to govern Arsenal from the touchline.
Meanwhile, Wenger believes it would be wrong to axe FA Cup replays — even if his choice to field a weakened Arsenal team allows Forest to force a third-round rematch.
Wenger has won a record seven FA Cups, including three of the last four, and he is eyeing No 8 as Arsenal head to the City Ground. While other managers were cursing their luck over replays, Wenger says it is time to stop moaning over the additions to the schedule.
Replays have been scrapped from the quarter-finals onwards but Wenger values them as a route to silverware.
‘If you gave me the choice of whether to go out or to replay, I’d want to replay,’ Wenger said. ‘I wouldn’t abolish them. They helped us a little bit to win this trophy. Many people want to cut it, I am not in favour.’
Wenger will make changes today from the side that drew 2-2 with Chelsea in midweek.
David Ospina will start in goal, while 20-year-old Ainsley Maitland-Niles could be pushed into midfield at the heart of a youthful side.
Wenger added: ‘I’ve been in England long enough to know what to expect on Sunday.’