Everton are set for a Fifth Round FA Cup replay with Oldham later this month after a 2-2 draw at Boundary Park. Victor Anichebe continues his strong recent form, while Phil Jagielka is also amongst the goals for the Merseysiders. A much-changed Arsenal taste defeat at the hands of Blackburn after the Gunners spurn chances aplenty at the Emirates, while Robin Van Persie stresses his desire to play every game for United…
Arsenal 0 Blackburn 1
Arsene Wenger made seven changes from the side that squared up to Sunderland last weekend. In defence, the Gunners boss changed three of the back-four from the Black Cats match. Laurent Koscielny and Thomas Vermaelen recovered from calf and ankle injuries respectively, while Francis Coquelin was fielded at right-back – Carl Jenkinson served a one-match suspension and Bacary Sagna remained on the bench, while Per Mertesacker was given the day off. Abou Diaby replaced Aaron Ramsey in central midfield, while Tomas Rosicky, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Gervinho were given starting roles, with Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott and Santi Cazorla dropping out – Lukas Podolski was once again named amongst the subs. Wenger sent on Walcott, Cazorla and Wilshere with 20 minutes remaining but the Gunners spurned chance after chance to crash out and will have to pick themselves up before in-form Bayern roll up to the Emirates on Tuesday evening.
Oldham 2 Everton 2
David Moyes made two changes from last Sunday’s defeat at United. Sylvain Distin replaced Johnny Heitinga in central defence, while Nikica Jelavic came in for Kevin Mirallas – the Croatian’s return to the lone forward role saw Anichebe partner him up front, with Marouane Fellaini significantly shifted back to a deeper midfield role for the first half at least. Jelavic supplied the opener for Anichebe before the Nigerian (who has produced three goals and four assists in his last nine Gameweeks) made way for Mirallas after the break with a knock. Details of that injury are sketchy right now but, presumably, Anichebe is an early doubt for the Gameweek 27 trip to Norwich. With Mirallas deployed wide right for the second period, Fellaini shifted back up front to partner Jelavic. It was Mirallas who provided the assist for Phil Jagielka’s goal courtesy of a corner. Moyes also handed Bryan Oviedo a chance to impress with 11 minutes left – the Costa Rican replaced Steven Pienaar on the left, while Jelavic was subbed off for Shane Duffy minutes before the end.
The draw means we are still uncertain as to whether Arsenal’s Gameweek 29 home clash with Everton will go ahead as originally planned. If either team had won yesterday, then the game would have been due for a reschedule as the next round of the FA Cup falls on the Gameweek 29 weekend – the only certainty is that the game cannot be rescheduled for the midweek prior to Gameweek 30, as Arsenal travel to Bayern Munich on Champions League duties on March 13. It’s still up in the air, then, with the Toffees’ replay against Oldham now set to take place for Wednesday February 27, as confirmed by their official twitter feed immediately after the match. A win for Oldham at Goodison, of course, would wipe away any need for the game to be moved to another date.
In Other News
West Ham could be set to welcome back James Collins in time for next weekend’s home clash with Tottenham. The centre-half has missed the previous five Gameweeks after sustaining a hamstring injury against Sunderland early last month but, in an interview with the club’s official website, confirmed he is on course for a return:
“I feel good; I am raring to go and can’t wait to get back into training with the rest of the lads. It is looking like I can do this next week, in the lead up to the Tottenham game, and see how I go. It has been frustrating and a pain, being out injured, but sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say it is an injury and get on with it. During the match [Sunderland] I felt good and my body was fine, but I then over-stretched, which can happen, and I have just been working hard to get back ever since.”
While the Hammers were less than impressive in Collins’ absence, with a single clean sheet in five, it’s fair to say they’ve struggled defensively over the past few months now. Sam Allardyce’s troops have kept out their opponents just twice from Gameweek 12 onwards but with George McCartney still sidelined due to a knee problem and Joey O’Brien limping off in last Sunday’s loss at Villa with a leg injury, Collins’ return looks vital, given his side’s upcoming schedule. After the Spurs clash, the Hammers travel to Stoke before squaring up to United and Chelsea – currently just seven points from safety, they could well be dragged into a scrap for survival if they fail to prosper over those fixtures.
Finally, Robin Van Persie has pleaded with Sir Alex Ferguson to allow him to play in Monday night’s FA Cup tie with Reading, stressing that he has a desire to play every game for the Red Devils. The United boss is widely expected to rotate his troops for the Reading tie, preserving energies for the Premier League campaign and the second leg Champions League tie with Real Madrid. Van Persie’s statement in reports today will be met with mixed news by his Fantasy owners – while the desire to play every game will be welcomed, the thought of Van Persie being risked in Monday’s tie will provide some concern. Here’s what the Dutchman had to say…
“I have found out that when you play for Manchester United, every game is a big game… There are some extra-special matches – like when you play City or Liverpool in the Premier League and Real Madrid in the Champions League – but the so-called smaller games are important also because winning those games makes you champions. I want to play against Reading. I want to keep going, playing all of the games. You get into a rhythm. I get used to having a game every three days and when you don’t play for a week, it can take maybe 10 or 15 minutes to get your rhythm back. Personally, I love to play all of the games.”
