Arsenal win and City prepare. The countdown to the big match continues and some Scots found hiding at the Emirates and the Eithad

Only four days to go before Arsenal meet Man City head on in the clash of the titans on The Road to Wembley from Scotland. The tickets have now arrived and once again many thanks to my good friend and colleague John Rees and the wonderful people at the Halifax and District Manchester City Supporters Club for sorting me out for the big match

Just the ticket: Thanks again to the Halifax Blues

The Halifax and District Branch of the Man City Supporters Club: Great Guys!

On Monday night Arsenal completed their preparations for the big match with an impressive win in Middlesbrough while Man City also ready themselves for Sunday’s showdown. Also over the last couple of days I have unearthed a couple of very tenuous links between the two protagonists and Bella Caledonia.

The ‘Wenger Out’ campaigners were temporarily silenced on Monday when the Professor pulled off a master stroke in his team selection for the do-or-die game against the Boro on Teesside. For the first time in twenty years he chose a back three rather than his usual back four. Not only did the triple centre half move thwart the Boro offence the two wing backs (Oxlade-Chamberlain and Monreal) got up and down the touch lines with panache and boundless energy and gave the Gunners width and additional options. The Boro too played their part in what was a very entertaining game. The Arsenal goals were scored by their two world-renowned mega stars, the mercurial Alexis Sanchez and World Cup winner Mesut Ozil.

An elixir from Alexis: Sanchez scores a great goal direct from a free kick on Monday

It is rumoured that Alexis Sanchez has been offered a new extended contract worth £250000 per week by Arsenal (yep, no typos here – a quarter of a million smackers every week). The recently seen to be grumpy and disgruntled Sanchez looked like a man on a mission to prove his love for the Gunners on Monday night and celebrated in extravagant fashion when the final whistle sounded. I think I might even be able to fall in love with Dot Cotton for £250k a week! During the last week the other Arsenal world football celeb Mesut Ozil has been loyally stating his admiration for the Prof and on Teesside he backed up his fine words with action scoring a well taken winning goal to ease the pressure on his manager. All is well at the Emirates and they are now looking forward to Sunday with optimism and confidence.

Man City are also in relaxed mood ahead of the big match. It is reported that the squad were in high spirits in training yesterday.

A Pep talk from the boss. City players relaxed and happy at training yesterday

City have won their last two league games in great style, scoring six goals in the process. They sit proudly in fourth position in the Premier league and are odds-on to qualify for the Champions League next season. They too will be confident of reaching the FA Cup final.

Regular readers will know that the unique feature of this ‘Road to Wembley’ is that for every match I try to find a link between the two competing teams and Bonny Scotland. Both Man City and Arsenal have a rich Scots heritage but it is over a decade since either team has fielded a Scot in a competitive match. However, I have unearthed a Scots connection in the current Arsenal playing staff. Last September they signed a Scots goalie Alex Crean, then aged 16, from Celtic to join their youth academy. They also have an 18 year old striker Charlie Gilmour who uniquely has played for both the England and Scotland youth teams.

He's a Scot now - belt and braces! Charlie Gilmour - young Gunner

Born and bred in Brighton Charlie Gilmour represented England at U-17 level and then wisely turned his back on the country of his birth to represent Scotland at U-18 level. Charlie qualifies to play for Scotland because his dad is from Lanarkshire and once played for Motherwell. It may take a few years but if Alex and Charlie maintain their progress the famous red Arsenal shirt may once again have a tartan trim in the future.

As far as I can gather neither the full Man City squad nor their development squad have any Scots in their ranks. They do however have one of their first team squad on loan at Celtic. Two years ago City signed the then precocious teenager Patrick Roberts from Fulham for a fee believed to be £12million. In January last year they sent him out on an 18 month loan to Celtic to gain some valuable first team experience.

Not a hat-trick for Patrick but City's Roberts celebrates another goal for Celtic

Thus far the talented 20 year old has played for the Bhoys 38 times scoring 11 goals, many of them spectacular. He will return to the Etihad in the summer but with De Bruyne and Sane in the current Man City team it is hard to see the winger getting much first team action for a few years yet.

Before closing today congratulations to my last team on ‘The Road’ Lincoln City for notching up yet another come from behind victory in the National League on Monday. The Imps were 1-0 down at Gateshead when 90 minutes had elapsed. However two goals in injury time saw them snatch a 2-1 win that moves them within one victory of promotion.

Finally today, the pie pics have been well received. So much so that people are now sending me selfies of pie eating action. Joe Black, who I caught up with when I was on’The Road’ with Brighton in January, was at the Brighton and Hove Albion promotion match / party at the Amex Stadium on Monday and emailed me this tasty morsel.

Better than Brighton Rock. Pie eating mayhem at the Amex on Monday

Will there be any complications in the preparations for Man City or Arsenal as they gear up for the clash of the titans on Sunday? Will anyone else send me pie eating mayhem? Comeback here on Saturday to find out as the countdown to the big match continues … and … keep reading.