Looking forward to the Man City v Arsenal semi final - I will be in good Kompany!

It is less than a week to go until I make my way to Wembley for Arsenal v Man City on the Road to Wembley from Scotland. Over the weekend City thrashed Southampton while Arsenal prepared for their Premier League match in Middlesbrough on ‘Monday Night Football’ to be shown on Sky TV.

Over the weekend I watched two football matches. One on the telly (Southampton v Man City) and one live (Kilmarnock v Hearts). The contrast between the two matches could not have been greater. On Saturday Man City played with breathtaking skill and athleticism and they exemplified all that is good about the Premier League. On a freezing cold Friday night in Ayrshire Kilmarnock and Hearts played out a dour 0-0 draw where both teams were lucky to get nil. A match that unfortunately epitomises the current state of Scottish football. Regular readers will know that I am always looking for a link between my ‘Road’ teams and Bonny Scotland. I have long since given up on City fielding a Scotsman in their team (the last Scot to play for City was Paul Dickov 10 years ago) but on Saturday they did not even have an Englishman in their starting line up. Manager Guardiola selected 3 Argentineans, 2 Belgians, 2 Spaniards, 1 Brazilian, 1 Frenchman, 1 German and 1 Ivorian. Some of the very best players from all corners of the globe were wearing the famous sky blue shirt. City won 3-0 and won with some style.

When Kompany heads the ball towards you be afraid - be very afraid!

All of the goals were picture goals. A powerful header by Vincent Kompany  from a corner for the first goal. A neat finish by German wonder boy Sane following a scintillating counter attack for the second. The final goal was headed in powerfully by the prolific Aguero. The City faithful were particularly pleased with the opening goal from their talisman and captain Vincent Kompany who has spent a lot of time recently sitting out games while injured.

Kompany ho! Vincent celebrates in some style

Meanwhile on a cold night in Ayrshire at least the pies were hot.

The world famous 'Killie Pie'. It warmed the heart of my cockles!

Things have been quiet at The Emirates over the weekend as The Professor prepares his shot shy Gunners for their ‘last chance saloon game’ at Middlesbrough tonight. Wenger has declared that his team ‘face a massive challenge to finish in the top four’. A massive challenge indeed but he has clearly not given up on it yet. A win tonight would shorten the odds on the top four finish and with it a coveted place in the Champions League next season.

The Professor Presiding at the Presser in advance of the Boro game 

The Middlesbrough v Arsenal match will be a good watch on the telly tonight as the Boro also desperately need a win to kick start their probably doomed campaign against relegation. In a sense they too are drinking in the last chance saloon. If Boro lose they are surely down. Before the Monday Night football I will be watching Gateshead v Lincoln City on BT Sport this afternoon. I had hoped to go to this game but other Easter Monday priorities got in the way. Good luck to the wonderful Imps – if results go their way this afternoon they could be promoted with 3 games to spare. If not they will no doubt secure the elevation on Saturday. As a Hearts supporter I have got used to exciting football tales ending in tears. It looks like the Lincoln City 2016-17 fairy story is going to finish with a happy ending.

Will the Gunners get to order one more round after tonight? Will the Imps secure promotion? Will I ever manage to unearth a link between the current Arsenal and Man City squads to Bella Caledonia? Come back here on Wednesday to find out. The anticipation to the Man City v Arsenal semi final in six days time is now tingleworthy. I will be in good Kompany at Wembley on Sunday!