City draw with Liverpool and under-fire Wenger's Arsenal lose at West Brom as the countdown to the cup semi begins

Arsenal v Manchester City in the semi final of the FA Cup is next up on the Road to Wembley from Scotland but that match is still nearly five weeks away. The two protagonists began their preparations with important league matches at the weekend when Arsenal travelled to the West Midlands to take on West Brom and Manchester City played host to Liverpool.

Things are not getting any easier for the beleaguered Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and his team were beaten 3-1 on Saturday by a very energetic and workmanlike West Brom side. The Gunners were undone by two well worked corners both leading to headed goals for the Baggies. This was the main difference between the two sides. As they did the previous week against Lincoln City, on the ‘Road’ match, Arsenal were trying to walk the ball into the net and although they scored 5 times against the Imps they could only manage 1 against a resolute West Brom defence. The defeat has sent the media into a frenzy with huge coverage of Wenger’s plight and the now undeniable fact that many Arsenal fans want him to leave.

Arsenal fans at West Brom on Sat: No respite for the Professor at the moment

Among the more unkind comments was former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton’s suggestion that he was like the unwelcome old uncle who won’t leave the party. If the Imps fans are still reading this blog they will know that is rich coming from Sutton. Sutton’s only experience of management was with Lincoln City and it was an unmitigated disaster as he oversaw the Imps demotion from the football league to the national league. Still, he feels qualified to tell a man who has won 3 league titles, 4 FA cups and provided funds from prudent transfer dealings to build a fantastic new stadium how to conduct his affairs. The anti-Wenger campaign is gathering pace and it may be that the professor will have left the Emirates Stadium by the time the FA Cup semi final comes around. I hope not.

Wenger looking concerned but still assertive and in control - for the moment

On Sunday at the Ethiad Stadium in Manchester, City played host to Liverpool in what is being hailed as one of the matches of the season so far. The passing was slick, the forward play was inventive and the level of technical ability on offer was truly amazing. Liverpool opened the scoring with a disputed penalty in the 51^st minute and Man City equalised 12 minutes later with a well taken goal from Aguerro. The diminutive Argentinean Aguerro also missed a good chance to win the game and Lallana of Liverpool also missed a gilt edged opportunity so a draw was a fair result.

What's that smell? Is Chris Sutton in the dugout area at the Ethiad?

Both managers were unhappy with the referee and it was an afternoon when one of England’s top refs, Michael Oliver, got a few decisions wrong.

Both Arsenal and Man City have a wee break now as international football takes centre stage this weekend. They resume on the 2^nd April when they meet at the Emirates in what is now an FA Cup semi final rehearsal. The match is on satellite TV and with both City and the Gunners committed to playing the beautiful game in a beautiful way it is unmissable. I have got a semi on already just thinking about it!

There is a little bit of a lull on the Road to Wembley from Scotland with the next FA Cup tie on this journey not taking place until Sunday the 23^rd April. In the meantime I have been catching up with my beloved Hearts and watched them on BT Sport on Saturday lunchtime losing 2-0 at Aberdeen. Tough times ahead at Tynecastle as long as the 30 year old ‘little boy lost’ Cathro stays in charge. I wonder if Wenger would consider Hearts when he finally leaves Arsenal? Maybe not. Also on Saturday, two of my older brothers Brian (aka The Dook) and Joe were at Easter Road watching Hibs. For reasons explained in the very early posts in this blog we are a split family with both Hearts and Hibs supporters in the ranks. My brothers were caught on camera on the BBC web site looking disgusted when ex Hearts striker Christian Nade opened the scoring for Dumbarton against Hibs.  

Joe (green hat) and The Dook (red collar) not impressed by ex-Jambo Christian Nade

So, my next job on the Road to Wembley from Scotland is to secure a ticket for the semi final tie on the 23^rd April. I also intend to rouse myself from this lull and investigate the links between Bella Caledonia and Manchester City. Come back here later in the week to see if I have solved the ticket problem and unearthed any noteworthy links between City and Scotland … and … keep reading