When Roberto Mancini joined Manchester City, he initially targeted a domestic cup, preferably the FA Cup, and a top four finish. He felt that a bit of silverware would make an assault on the Premier League title easier the next season.
The Citizens won the FA cup and finished third in his maiden season then went on to win the league the next season. It might a bit rich to tell Arsene Wenger to take lessons from Mancini given that he’s won considerably more trophies in English football, but perhaps can take a leaf from that book.
Arsenal lie third in the league, with Manchester City looking to use their games in hand to leapfrog the Gunners. Chelsea are in a very strong position, seven points clear at the top of the table and favourites to the title.
Second-placed Liverpool are also serious title contenders, and they have every title rival visiting them in their remaining fixtures. The Reds are a formidable side at home with the free scoring SAS partnership.
City have only dropped to second favourites for many pundits because they have been otherwise engaged and unable to keep up on the number of games played. If they win all their games in hand, they will be top of the league because of their superior goal difference.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side may have recently suffered a shocking loss to Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup quarter finals but they are a real force when they get back to their best.
Wenger knows that there are too many variables for him to count on winning this league.
The Champions League looks like it’s out of reach, unless the Gunners can manage a minor miracle in Munich tomorrow against a Bayern side that has scored 26 goals in their last six games, winning them all.
All of which leaves the FA Cup as Wenger’s best chance of winning a trophy this campaign
Wigan, their semi-final opponents, may be in fine form in the Championship but they will be overwhelmed by Arsenal if the Gunners bring their A game.
The other semi-final is between Sheffield United and Hull City. Should Arsenal beat Wigan, they will be favourites to win the final.
Chelsea have recently been the most successful club in this competition because they have regularly played their strongest side when other big teams used the competition to give fringe players game time. Wenger should resist the temptation to field less than his strongest side in the semi-final.
The other important thing for the Gunners is for the players to really go for it the way they did against Everton in the quarter-finals.
Wenger may bemoan his fortunes after injuries disturbed what was a promising season but he should rally his forces to end the nine-year trophy drought in the FA Cup. That should give them the belief to aim higher next season.
