Wenger: “Arsenal Are Now favourites”

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has accepted that Arsenal now have the responsibility of dealing with being ‘favourites’ for the rest of the FA Cup, with many bookies placing them at the top of the odds due to United still having to negotiate a replay against a stubborn Cambridge United side.

In his press conference the Frenchman said.

"With Saturday’s results you would be a bit cautious (about being favourites), the cup is the cup and what you want is the focus on the next round and to go through,” Wenger said after the holders saw off Brighton 3-2 in the fourth round.Arsene Wenger was cautious when asked if Arsenal are outright facourites to win the FA Cup“We have good experience from last season to know that every round is different and the most difficult games were not especially the most expected ones last season.“So let’s wait for the (fifth round) draw. Of course we fight and we want to retain our cup, but it’s too long to go to say that.“But we’ll be one of the favourites, because I think Man United might go through and some of the other Premier League sides will go through.“We’ll be among these teams but you cannot predict who will win it.”"

I quite like what Wenger has said here, we’re likely favourites but the cup is highly unpredictable and to expect to be in the final is not a good outlook. There’s nothing separating the big sides from being drawn together in the 5th round, and if we draw Manchester United away from home suddenly we’re not favourites anymore.

The draw for the 5th round takes place later today and there will be a lot of interest from the Premier League teams left in the FA Cup, and I think that Wenger will be extremely happy that Manchester City and Chelsea will not be potential 5th round opponents for Arsenal!

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