There aren’t many potential banana skins for Premier League sides, but Arsenal’s trip to Oxford could be one. And Newcastle should do all they can to swerve a slip at Hillsborough.
Game to watch – Oxford v Arsenal
What with a World Cup, other internationals and the death of a monarch, the Premier League has rarely been more stop-start. It’s all a bit coitus interruptus.
A few clubs will be grateful for a pause before it all gets hot and sweaty again next week, with the FA Cup third round providing a distraction that some will relish more than others.
For Arsenal, the opportunity to gather some composure after getting very excited in midweek has probably come at a good time. The Premier League’s surprising pacesetters took seven points from nine during the festive period, which Mikel Arteta might have accepted before the post-World Cup restart. But he certainly wasn’t satisfied after Newcastle shut them out – by fair means or foul, depending on your viewpoint – at the Emirates on Tuesday night.
Amid a title charge that has caught us all on the hop, Arteta is probably less arsed about the FA Cup than at any other point in his Arsenal reign. That, and the fact he’s made few changes in the Premier League, mean he is certain to rotate heavily for a trip to Oxford in front of the cameras on Monday night, increasing the prospect of an upset.
Which is what we all want to see from the FA Cup third round, right? Perhaps to many, City versus Chelsea (again), Liverpool against Wolves or Everton’s trip to Manchester United are more alluring, but the first weekend of the year ought to be the preserve of bloody-nosed Goliaths and giant-slayers milking a moment in the spotlight.
It’s a potentially tricky trip for Arsenal, one of only six top-flight clubs made to embark upon visits to lower-league opposition. Leeds have demons to conquer at Cardiff, while Forest, Brighton and Leicester are travelling to Blackpool, Boro and Gillingham respectively. Newcastle face a similar prospect…
Team to watch – Newcastle
After supposedly sh*thousing their way to a point at Arsenal, a different challenge awaits Eddie Howe and his very merry men: a cup jaunt to Hillsborough to take on Sheffield Wednesday.
In years gone by, Newcastle don’t seem to have given much of a toss for the domestics cups. At least that’s how it looked from their performances and results, though it is hard to justify whatever disdain they may have held for the FA Cup as it’s…
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