|
Arsenal face severe test in Cup replay
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-03-02 08:55
Arsenal will be able to measure how far they have fallen this season when
they play away to Championship side Sheffield United in a FA Cup fifth round
replay today.
The champions, 10 points adrift of leaders Chelsea and four behind
second-placed Manchester United in the Premier League, will travel to Sheffield
on Tuesday without any of their first team strikers who are absent through
injury and suspension.
Arsenal's Ashley
Cole celebrates with teammate Gael Clichy after scoring the winning
penalty against Sheffield United in their English FA Cup soccer match
played at Bramhall Lane, Sheffield, England, Tuesday, March 1, 2005.
[AP] | Striker Thierry Henry and winger Robert Pires will miss the game through
injury. Forwards Dennis Bergkamp, Jose Antonio Reyes and Robin van Persie are
suspended.
Injured England defender Sol Campbell and Brazil midfielder Edu will also
miss the game through injury.
The 1-1 draw against Sheffield was yet another glitch in a season that has
gone downhill since Arsenal lost 2-0 to United at Old Trafford in October, the
end of a record 49-man unbeaten league run.
They have won only half of their 28 games in all competitions since and lost
five, including two further defeats by United in the league and League Cup.
Arsenal are in danger of finishing lower than second in the Premier League
for the first time in their eight and a half years under Arsene Wenger.
With their chances of progress in the Champions League seriously compromised
by their 3-1 defeat at Bayern Munich last week, the FA Cup could end up being
Arsenal's only chance of a trophy this season.
SAINTS TEST
Southampton, battling against relegation, face a trip to west London to meet
third division Brentford, who twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at St Mary's.
Saints did well to hold Arsenal 1-1 at home in the Premier League at the
weekend but they are reeling from the dismissal of midfielder David Prutton, who
is set for a likely longer suspension than the automatic one-match ban after he
pushed the referee in his anger.
There could be as many as four non-Premier League teams in the quarter-finals
with Brentford eyeing a glamour home game against holders Manchester United if
they beat Southampton.
Blackburn Rovers were held by second division Burnley in a goalless draw at
Turf Moor but they now have home advantage in their replay at Ewood Park, also
on Tuesday.
Not so Tottenham Hotspur, forced into a replay on Wednesday at Nottingham
Forest when the second division strugglers came from behind to draw 1-1 at White
Hart Lane.
Forest's 21-year-old midfielder Kris Commons has been voted FA Cup Player of
the Round before the replays for his fine performance at Spurs.
|
 | | | Tiozzo regains his title | | |  | | | Nowitzki leads Mavs to 122-113 win | | |  | | | The 2005 grand prix world championship season | | |
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
Today's
Top News |
|
|
|
Top Sports
News |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
