Ethan Rowe – tipster from BiggestFreeBets.com and Arsenal fan gives his view on Arsenal’s upcoming match against Reading at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final.
Arsenal come into the match arguably the form side in Europe having won their last 8 Premier League matches in a row and winning their last 16 of 18 matches. Mr Wenger knows his side are in great shape to retain the FA Cup and will create history in doing so as Arsenal will have won the competition more than other side. However, a match against Reading isn’t a foregone conclusion, especially as we all remember a trip to Wembley in the League Cup Final when they went into the match against Birmingham City only to be on the end of an Obefemi Martins 90th minute winner.
Good for us as Reading have really had a poor season so far and given their terrible league position they will have seen the FA Cup as something of break from their Championship woes. The Royals will come into the match as massive underdogs but will be in good voice at a full Wembley on Saturday evening.
Arsenal will likely field a similar side to the one that ground out a 1-0 win at Turf Moor on the weekend with this season’s revelation Francis Coquelin expected to retain his position in the side. Oliver Giroud will lead the attack and will be hoping to add to his goal tally after his run of 6 goals in 6 games came to an end at Burnley. I must say I’ve been impressed by the performances of our defence something that seems to have been forgotten amongst the goals and fine performances, there seems to something less showy about Ospina in goal and he’s growing in confidence with each win and clean sheet to his name.
Forgive me, but I’m still unconvinced by Mesut Ozil and the quality he brings to the Arsenal side. It’s fine for him to play in a Real Madrid or Germany team that possess world class places across the whole side but for an Arsenal side that has a splattering of world class players can we really afford a luxury such as Ozil and an expensive luxury at that. I’m confident the German never really dreamed of a move to Arsenal and I’ve no doubt the player is one of the best players to ever grace a football field, but maybe if it were 10 years ago back in the invincible days the German would have been much more effective in the style of Robert Pires. I certainly wouldn’t be surprised to see Ozil depart – if not this summer, 100% the next.
My next thought is Danny Welbeck – a player who has really impressed in his opening games for Arsenal but has similar to his player style drifted out of the team. It’s clear Mr Wenger thinks highly of the England international but Louis van Gaal’s comments of the former United player not scoring enough goals seem to be true, although it’s undoubted he’s a player of immense quality and as an Arsenal fan I’m happy to see him play. However, I don’t seem him as a natural striker and more of the opposite of a Thierry Henry. Is he a striker we can turn into a winger?
It’s certainly worth mentioning Aaron Ramsey after he recorded is 150 game for the club and I for one was more than happy to eat my hat after a player I was highly critical in his early years and blossomed into one of the finest midfielders in the modern game. Ramsey hasn’t been a prolific as he was last season but with him in the side there are goals coming from areas that we have found tough in recent years and something I’m grateful for. Hopefully Ramsey can enjoy his find Wembley scoring run and grab one against Reading on Saturday.
One thing I’m confident about is another win at Wembley and all eyes will be on a possible meeting with Liverpool; certainly something that will get my pulses racing and give our team the opportunity to get revenge on Liverpool after Michael Owen devastating double. A final against Liverpool would be all the more memorable given it would be Steven Gerrard’s last match for Liverpool, something even I can appreciate.
It’s clear the semi final will be a fantastic day out for both sets of fans, and for us Arsenal fans who are now becoming regulars at the home of English football (it’s starting to feel like a second home!) we’ll likely leave North-east London the happier.
I’m thinking we’ll win this match comfortably by 2 or 3 goals – I’m going to back Oliver Giroud to find the net in this one, which should hopefully cover the cost of the expensive ticket!
All is left to say is sit back and enjoy the match and fingers crossed we don’t make this harder work than it needs to be!
-Ethan Rowe [Follow our website BiggestFreeBets ]
Comments