Friday, March 11, 2011

FA Cup Sixth Round Full Preview

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has demanded his team use Saturday's FA Cup clash with Manchester United to lift their spirits.
The Gunners' season has taken a couple of big jolts in recent weeks, first from their Carling Cup final defeat against Birmingham, then via this week's controversial Champions League exit at the hands of Barcelona.
With dreams of winning four trophies now revised to a more modest two, Wenger has told his players to maintain their focus.
"We lost one in the last minute, we played another, against the super favourite of the Champions League, and we lost under special circumstances," he said.
"We need to keep the right attitude to turn the luck around on our side a little bit.
"We are disappointed, but we want to focus on our next target, and we have big targets in front of us."
Arsenal will be without captain Cesc Fabregas, after he suffered a recurrence of a hamstring problem on his return to the Nou Camp, and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who went off after only 16 minutes against Barcelona having injured his hand.
Stoke have received a boost ahead of their rematch with West Ham on Sunday as Matthew Etherington has declared himself fit and ready to play.
The winger came on during last weekend's 3-0 loss to the Hammers in the Barclays Premier League and now wants to play a bigger part as Stoke look for revenge.
He told the club's website: "My sharpness is better and now, with a full week of training behind me, hopefully I can be out there all guns blazing on Sunday afternoon and try to help the club get to Wembley."
West Ham have won three in a row in league and cup as their battle to avoid relegation has gained fresh impetus.
Boss Avram Grant knows his way to a Wembley final having taken Portsmouth there in the FA Cup and Chelsea there in the League Cup.
Reading boss Brian McDermott is looking forward to the occasion as he prepares to take his npower Championship side to Manchester City.
City have needed replays to get past Leicester and Notts County in previous rounds, whilst Reading, eighth in the Championship, have knocked out Premier League sides Everton and West Brom to get this far.
McDermott said: "We're looking forward to a good day on Sunday.
"City have got top, top, top players and a terrific manager too, so we'll see."
Saturday's other game sees Carling Cup winners Birmingham entertain Bolton.
Saturday's Matches
Sunday's Matches

No comments:

Post a Comment