There is no doubt in my mind that the Arsenal players who took part in last weekend’s humiliating loss at Anfield will be looking for revenge against Liverpool on Sunday in the fifth round of the FA Cup, and yet while both managers would love to progress in the tournament, the pair will have other thoughts going on in the back of their minds.
Arsene Wenger is bound to be focused on Wednesday nights clash at home to Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 match, knowing that ideally he would like to take at least a two goal advantage with him to the second leg at the Allianz Arena on March 11th.
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers however is only concentrating on a top-four finish and while the FA Cup would be a nice addition to the trophy room and a first for the Northern Irishman its Champions League football next season that is a must for him.
Wenger desperately needs a win after the Liverpool game and then the nervous performance against Manchester United, yet I feel that the 64-year-old Frenchman is looking at the bigger picture knowing that the smart move would be to rest a couple of key players ahead of Wednesday.
Rodgers has while putting out a strong side in previous rounds the opportunity to rest players with both Glen Johnson and Daniel Agger fit again along with Martin Kelly who is keen to get his place back in the first team, he has also started Brad Jones in goal so I see no reason why that would change either.
As for Arsene Wenger he will probably stick with Szczęsny in goal now that Fabianski has said he will be leaving and has no real choice but to play Mertesacker and Koscielny with Thomas Vermaelen still side-lined.
He could however rest Sagna and play Jenkinson with Kieran Gibbs almost certain to start over Natcho Monreal. The Gunners can also welcome back Mathieu Flamini after his suspension and play him and Cazorla in central midfield with Oxlade-Chamberlin on the wing.
Mesut Özil has done nothing of late with many people saying that he needs a winter break so Wenger should leave him out and start either Podolski or more likely Rosicky.
One change I feel Wenger must make is to leave Olivier Giroud on the bench and play Nicklas Bendtner as the French striker looked absolutely knackered against United.
Whatever line ups the managers decide to put out secretly I would not be surprised if either of them would be particularly upset should they lose on Sunday even though they will never admit to it publically.
