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Arsenal Vs Blackpool: 5 things we learned – Young guns explode

By Andrew Dowdeswell

BLACKPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 05: Alex Iwobi celebrates after scoring his team's third goal with teammate Ainsley Maitland-Niles of Arsenal during the FA Cup Third Round match between Blackpool and Arsenal at Bloomfield Road on January 5, 2019 in Blackpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mark Robinson/Getty Images)
BLACKPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 05: Alex Iwobi celebrates after scoring his team's third goal with teammate Ainsley Maitland-Niles of Arsenal during the FA Cup Third Round match between Blackpool and Arsenal at Bloomfield Road on January 5, 2019 in Blackpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mark Robinson/Getty Images) /
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BLACKPOOL, ENGLAND – JANUARY 05: Unai Emery, Manager of Arsenal reacts after Arsenal’s second goal during the FA Cup Third Round match between Blackpool and Arsenal at Bloomfield Road on January 5, 2019 in Blackpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mark Robinson/Getty Images)
BLACKPOOL, ENGLAND – JANUARY 05: Unai Emery, Manager of Arsenal reacts after Arsenal’s second goal during the FA Cup Third Round match between Blackpool and Arsenal at Bloomfield Road on January 5, 2019 in Blackpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mark Robinson/Getty Images) /

2. Unai Emery wants to win the FA Cup

I was slightly surprised to see the starting XI at 4:30 in the afternoon. Aaron Ramsey. Alex Iwobi. Laurent Koscielny, before he suffered an injury in the warm-ups. This was a strong team. And Unai Emery had little hesitation in introducing Alexandre Lacazette shortly after the hour-mark to wrestle back control of the match. He wanted to win this match.

Obviously, a manager wants to win every match. It would be unnatural if they didn’t. But there was an intensity to Emery on the touchline in this match that was similar to the intensity that he behaved when Arsenal played Liverpool or Manchester City or even Spurs. Emery ‘respected the competition’, whatever that means.

The FA Cup has been kind to Arsenal. They have won it three times in the last five years. No other club has won it more in the history of the competition. And Emery rightly sees it as a chance to win a trophy, something that is increasingly uncertain as the top six in the Premier League intensifies. The FA Cup should be taken seriously, and Emery seemingly agrees.

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