Yesterday, Liverpool snuck back Championship side AFC Bournemouth with two goals at Dean Court enough to secure progression. Arsenal, on the other hand, made quick work of Coventry on Friday with four unanswered goals sending Arsene Wengers side to the next round. Neither team will be relishing meeting the other in the next round though and their league fixture on February 8th will only add an extra edge to the proceedings.
Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey handed Arsene Wengers men a 2-0 victory when the two sides met in London back in November, but it could be an altogether different affair next month with a Champions League meeting with current holders Bayern Munich looming only days after the tricky fixture. The two sides haven’t met in the Cup since Arsenal ran out 3-1 victors at Anfield in 2007.
Despite Arsenal still racing for silverware in three competitions, the FA Cup remains one of their better chances of bringing home a trophy for the first time in over eight seasons. Liverpool, on the other hand, look to be all but out of the title race with a number of injuries blighting their league progress as they sit eight points off the Gunners at the top of the table. Leading up to the match with Bournemouth, Reds boss Brendan Rodgers stressed the importance of the Cup and his desire to see Liverpool lift the famous trophy — since this looks to be our only shot at silverware this year, the Northern Irishman, along with the Anfield faithful, won’t be taking the next round lightly at all.
