Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
Tomas Rosicky could play for Arsenal for the first time this season and Francis Coquelin, out since November with a knee problem, could return.
Danny Welbeck, out for the past 10 months with a knee problem, is also close to a first-team return.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson is set to be in the Burnley squad after joining on a short-term deal.
Midfielder Dean Marney (calf) is doubtful but boss Sean Dyche can select from an otherwise unchanged squad.
Editor’s Note: Arsenal have not won a Premier League game in their last 3 attempts and now find themselves 3rd in the table so tomorrow the winners of the 2014 and 2015 editions of the F.A. Cup will probably see this as a welcome break and a hopeful return to winning ways as they entertain Championship Promotion hopefuls Burnley.
Last Sunday Arsenal lost to their perennial bogey team Chelsea in a game which was turned on its head by the sending off of Per Mertesacker in the 18th Minute, Mertesacker duly misses out this Afternoon through suspension but while he is missing Arsene Wenger may be able to welcome back a couple of faces who have been on the treatment table for a while in the form of Tomas Rosicky and Francis Coquelin
Sunday also saw the return of Alexis Sanchez to first team action but he may be rested for this Afternoon as he only returned from the bench and that was almost a move of desperation on Arsene Wenger’s part then again it may be the perfect opportunity for him to get more game time under his belt. I guess Wenger knows best
What Wenger does know is that he won’t want to go out of the Cup especially as there is a realistic chance of them being the first ever club to win the competition 3 years in a row. But first they will have to overcome the challenge of Sean Dyche’s Burnley
The Clarets are flying high as of late, especially after beating Derby 4-1 on Monday night and they now find themselves 3rd in The Championship and only 4 points off an automatic promotion position, they can attribute that league place due to being unbeaten in their last 5 league matches and winning the last 3 in a row.
Burnley have pretty much a full strength squad and will be calling on the expertise of Joey Barton today, he has been a key part of Sean Dyche’s side this season and would no doubt love to cause an upset at The Emirates. Unfortunately for Barton I think Arsenal will return to winning ways and won’t be ready to relinquish their grip on the F.A. Cup just yet. A home win and Arsenal in the hat for the 5th Round Draw for me.
