Arsenal vs Lincoln City. The FA Cup Quarter-Final.
Emirates StadiumAttendance59,454.
Saturday 11 March 2017 18:37, UK
Arsene Wenger is hopeful of a response from his Arsenal side as they host National League side Lincoln in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday (kick-off 5.30pm).
The Gunners suffered another Champions League humiliation in midweek as Bayern Munich completed a 10-2 aggregate victory over them at the Emirates Stadium, meaning the FA Cup remains the last piece of silverware that Arsenal can realistically win this season.
"The FA Cup is the next game, and of course when you've had a disappointment like we had in the last game it's important to respond," said Wenger.
"We are favourites, but when you are at a big club, you are favourites 90 per cent of the time, and you have to deal with that. It's the next game and in the next game, people expect us to win, so there's a pressure there of course."
National League leaders Lincoln, meanwhile, face the trip of a lifetime to the Emirates against a side who start the weekend 88 places ahead of them in the English football pyramid.
Team news
Arsenal will be without both Alex Iwobi and Danny Welbeck. The pair have been struck down with illness while manager Wenger is sweating over Mesut Ozil, who is also sick.
Santi Cazorla (Achilles) and Mohamed Elneny (ankle) also miss out, with Wenger likely to make a number of changes for the game.
Lincoln have been given permission to include Aston Villa left-back Riccardo Calder and Doncaster goalkeeper Ross Etheridge in their squad after signing the duo on loan. Forward Lee Angol marked his Imps debut with a hat-trick against Braintree on Tuesday night, but is cup-tied having played against Chelsea for parent club Peterborough in the third round.
Midfielder Josh Ginnelly, on loan from Burnley, is also ineligible after he made an appearance in the FA Cup during a spell with Walsall, while defender Lee Beevers has been out since the end of October with a knee problem.
Match stats
This is the first meeting between Arsenal and Lincoln in 102 years, with Lincoln winning 1-0 in a Division Two game at Sincil Bank in March 1915.
Lincoln are the first non-league side to reach the quarter-finals since QPR in 1914 and are looking to become the first non-league side to reach the semi-finals since Swindon in 1912.
Arsenal have won 18 of their last 19 FA Cup ties.
Arsenal's Theo Walcott has scored four goals in two FA Cup appearances this season.
Lincoln have won 23 of their last 30 games in all competitions and have only lost two of their last 34.
Paul Merson's prediction
Arsenal need a result badly and they will get one here. The gulf between the two sides will be ridiculous, especially on the carpet of a pitch at the Emirates. This is Arsenal's only chance now of any sort of success this season so I don't see anything other than a home win. It's great Lincoln have got to this stage but this is where it will end for them.
PAUL PREDICTS: 4-0 (5/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Lincoln are up against odds of 25/1 to dump Arsenal out of the competition within 90 minutes, with the Gunners just 1/11 for the victory while extra-time is priced at 9/1.
Sky Bet go 28/1 on the tie to be settled on penalties while either side to progress in extra-time is a 16/1 chance. Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez are joint favourites in the first goalscorer betting at just 5/2 apiece, while Matt Rhead is considered the Imps' main threat at 14/1 to net first.
