Arsenal Take On Underdog Lincoln In Emirates FA Cup: Follow The Match Build Up On These Twitter Hashtags

For some reason, today's Arsenal Emirates FA Cup quarter final against Lincoln City FC brings back memories of that 2011 Football League(Carling)Cup final against Birmingham. Maybe it's because we needed to win as badly as we do today. Maybe because, like that Wembley night,  we've lately been shooting ourselves in the foot with perilous defending. Maybe it's because us gooners know the haters are watching waiting to have a dig at our beloved Arsenal once again.

Beware Calciopoli 2006: In The Wake Of Sutton United Goalkeeper Wayne Shaw Pie Scandal,British Football Needs To Guard Its Neck From The Threat Of Illegal Gambling That Almost Killed Serie A

Wayne Shaw put a wager on not only his job, but also his reputation on Arsenal's visit to Gander Green Lane for Emirates FA Cup knockout round tie. He is 46, has battled weight and depression. There simply isn't room for upward movement  as regards his career as a footballer. In any event, he been at the periphery of the action. Maybe life happened and he chose the pie eating stunt as his ode. Maybe he wasn't alone nor doing this for himself only,  being the chum he is, he was taking one for the team. No doubt this was a once-in-a-lifetime moment for everyone at the non-league side and one takes opportunities as they come. Or maybe, just maybe, Wayne acted under the suffocating press of gambling money in football.

4 Quick Lessons: Granit Xhaka, Theo Walcott, Craig Eastmond's Sad parable and Other Insights as Arsenal Rolls Over Sutton FC Into Emirates FA Cup Quarter Finals

Arsenal’s visit to Sutton FC for the FA cup fifth round tie had been billed as another opportunity to showcase the magic of the world oldest cup competition with an upset on the cards as the gunners were expected to still be wobbling under post Bayern Munich stress syndrome. In the end, Arsenal’s comfortable 2-0 win was reminiscent of those evenings at the rugby ground of my public high school facing the more illustrious across private school from across the road that always beat us: Enough to be proud of the lads on the pitch, sickening for dreams deferred, not exactly an embarrassment but good outing nonetheless.

No Boss. No Problem. Steve Bould's Red Army Blows Southampton Away Into FA Cup 5th Round

If memory serves me right, the last time Wenger was banished  to the stands, we were deep into a mauling at old Trafford. Right there in enemy territory, Arsene stood arms stretched in a crucifix pose. For all his failings, you've got to give it to Arsene for leading from the front when it matters. Even when Arsenal are under siege (another incident that comes to mind is the Jose Mourinho altercation the season before at Stamford bridge) the boss doesn't back down.

During those moments as a fan watching on, you hope that by Arsene's action the team will get a lift and fight for their pride. Depressingly, in both circumstances any attempt at a fightback was nothing more than the twitch of a dead horse. At Old Trafford, it served to confirm that Arsenal's project youth had run it's course. That you can only do so much with inexperienced lot of Szczesny, Jenkinson and Djourou.

Arsenal's Old Trafford mauling was followed by the mad transfer deadline day trolley dash that brought in Mikel Arteta and Yossi Benayoun. Those unusual signings have build up to this Arsenal team that this term has shown resolve. It has been a long time coming and there have been days like this Mirror headline Wenger's push on Mourinho was packed with years of frustration, anger, dislike and powerlessness.

Is Arsene Wenger Really That Tactically Naive?

A man has to earn his bread some way or some how. You have to bring the bacon home if your missus is anything like mine- a magician in the kitchen. So the mundane affair of keeping an 8 to 5 got the best of me this week and the posts dried up here. Sorry folks! For Arsenal though, the excitement never dries up. Being Arsenalii Damu is quite the roller-coaster ride.

Early this week, the glorious news that Rosicky and BFG showed their faith by extending their contracts.Then the heavenly news of Ramsey getting back to fitness, alongside rumors of Rambo tied down with a mega £100,000+ per week contract running the next five years. Late in the week, the bombshell of Wilshere's injury lay off. Six weeks out with a navicular hairline fracture!To that, add the uncertainty surrounding Arsene Wenger's future being it that he is yet to sign on a new deal

What a ride. You've just got to Love Arsenal. Being an Arsenal fan is so much like the perfect relationship where as soon as it gets routine, something always props up to get juices flowing again.Ask any girl and they will tell you just how utterly intoxicating and exciting it is to love a bad boy and wonder not why nice lads finish last.

Facing Everton in just over a couple of hours, it must feel like the girl on Valentines eve. You might end up on the sunny beaches of Malindi or find yourself squeezing your way past potbellied women and psedo-pregnant men in a smokey Nyama Choma and rock bottom prized Tusker joint somewhere in the precincts of Nairobi. Either-way, it is sure to be a ride.

Will Everton repeat their swashbuckling display at the Emirates earlier at the turn towards mid-season? Will Ozil make it a habit of scoring against Everton? With the benefit of hind sight , I find that Everton game as the nadir that turned our season. The point when a team on the average-to-good transition came to our own turf, out passed and out played us, bringing doubt to our own good-to-great transformation fairy tale.

FA CUP: Arsenal Vs Huddersfeild- Preview, Favourite Lineup, Andrei Arshavin, Wengernomics and More

Squad rotation expected. Squillaci, Abou Diaby and Rosicky are back. Emmanuel Adebayor's Cv gets more impressive- at least on paper. A continuing discussion on Wengernomics. Arsenalii's preffered team to face Huddersfeild. Andrei Arshavin's candid admission and pledge to the fans. A sprinkling of history and more.....

all in looking forward at Arsenal vs Huddersfeild Town, FA Cup 4th round tie on Sunday 30th January 2011 at the Emirates Stadium.