F.A Cup fifth round draw: Arsenal to play Liverpool next month

The next round of the F.A Cup has a couple of truly exciting ties, including ours, and there certainly won't be any love lost between Arsenal and Liverpool, when they play each other at the Emirates Stadium over the weekend of 15/16th February.

Podolski's brace aided by second half goals from Giroud and Cazorla saw off Coventry's challenge on Friday night in the fourth round, keeping us in contention of three potential trophies this year.

The draw for the fifth round of the F.A Cup was made tonight which also sees Manchester City take on Chelsea. An Aguero hat-trick helped City on their way to overcoming Wigan 4-2, while Oscar's stunning free kick this afternoon was enough to edge birthday boy Mourinho's side past Stoke.

Youngster Gedion Zelalem (pictured central) made his Arsenal debut against Coventry. 

So February looks to be our toughest month of the season yet. We are now scheduled to play Crystal Palace (h), Liverpool (a), and then four home ties in a row against Manchester United, Liverpool (F.A Cup), Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League, and Sunderland. It is hard to say which will be our sternest test but hopefully we'll be out to prove everyone wrong who doubts us, and not let this time of the year crush our season - if history is anything to go by!

It's good to be in next round of the F.A Cup but we face a busy month in February as the business end of the season appears on the horizon. We do, however, have a great opportunity to make the Emirates Stadium a real fortress, and of course, playing at home should give us a certain edge during this difficult period.

Liverpool have had a strange winter period and have been scoring goals for fun at times but they could only muster one win in November. They also suffered defeats against the big sides of Chelsea and City last month, ultimately dropping away from us and they currently lie in fourth in the Barclays Premier League table. Of course this is still a great position to be in, but not so good considering they were in a battle with us for top spot and are now eight points behind.

They also haven't lost since the the turn of the new year but then neither have we. Our last loss came against City which was very annoying considering we still scored three goals in that game! We'll do well again though to stop the duo of Suarez and Sturridge, but we look to have strong-enough defensive capabilities to deal with them. They can still find goals however, even when having the quietest of games which we will need to be wary of.

Cazorla and Ramsey were on target at the Emirates last time we played each other back at the start of November. Let's hope we get behind the team again back on home soil again and get ourselves through to the quarter finals.

The complete F.A Cup fifth round draw:

Manchester City v Chelsea
Sheffield United or Fulham v Nottingham Forest or Preston North End
Arsenal v Liverpool
Brighton & Hove Albion v Hull City

Cardiff City v Wigan AthleticSheffield Wednesday v Charlton AthleticSunderland v SouthamptonEverton v Swansea City

Arsenal will play Southampton, away at St Mary's on Tuesday night (7:45pm GMT) as we turn attentions back to the Premier League. 

Cazorla and Podolski pre-match.

Wenger sticking to his guns with any January transfers unlikely

With no done deals for Arsenal so far this January, it appears Arsene Wenger is happy to carry out the remainder of the season with the current squad, regardless of injury concerns.

Ahead of our F.A Cup fourth round tie against Coventry City tomorrow night (7:45pm k/o GMT), Wenger told journalists at his press conference, "I feel a bit guilty always going to a press conference during the transfer market and having nobody to announce, but I don't want to lie.

"It looks very unlikely. At the moment we are not close to doing anything. Overall we have a very strong squad. If something exceptional turns up we will do it, but not everyone will strengthen - they buy, but that does not always mean strengthen" (BBC Sport).

I've said it before though and that is, with Arsene Wenger, you really can't ever be sure about what he says. He often appears to frustrate fans, before unveiling a new face. But in some ways, maybe he has learned from his past mistakes as I'll come onto shortly.

Arsene Wenger

Former Arsenal target Juan Mata is due to sign for Man Utd later today, upon completing his medical this afternoon for a fee believed to be around £37m. This will be a major boost to Moyes' title hopes as the Red Devils have looked a little out of place this season, not that any of us need reminding. We've been having a right laugh at them all season. Still Mata's signature is exactly what Wenger is talking about. There is no denying that this is an example of an exceptional player becoming available and so United are strengthening. All too often Wenger has dipped his toes in the water and fished out players like Park or Chamakh and look how that turned out for us.

I am a great admirer of Mata's talents and, as much as I wish to see United continue falling in dramatic decline this year, I wish Mata all the best at his new club in this World Cup year.

In terms of keeping players however, Wenger will talk to Thomas Vermaelen about extending his contract in the summer. I think he lost his way a little last season and it is hard separating the pairing of Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker this year. They have been exceptional, solid rocks at the back, in what is a much tougher and more hard working back-four. Vermalen was rumoured to be wanting a move away which you can understand knowing his defensive skills and with the World Cup approaching, he won't want to be missing a place in the Belgium defence. It would be a sad miss to see him leave however as he is still a very good defender to have, particularly with the injuries our defences have seen in seasons gone by. We'll keep track of this one as the summer approaches. 

I would still love to see United's Hernandez, who scored last night to take Manchester United to penalties against Sunderland, step in up front at Arsenal as we need a proven goalscorer from the Premier League. Maybe with Mata's attacking force, and considering when Van Persie, Rooney and Welbeck are all in the side, Hernandez may be that exceptional player Wenger might need.

Hernandez in action for Man Utd.

Abou Diaby: Where next for the injury struck midfielder?

Yes that's right. Abou Diaby. Remember him?

You'd be forgiven not to include him in your Arsenal midfield considering his last Arsenal performance came in March of last year. The French midfielder suffered another injury in his career after damaging his crucial knee ligaments. There had been talk of his return by this coming March but Wenger has now suggested he may not feature for us at all this season.

This begs the question...will her ever put on an Arsenal shirt again? And what does this mean for the 27-year-old?

His physique had him described as our next Patrick Vieira. There was certainly no denying the pace and strength Diaby possessed and he always looked a threat against sides when in midfield and pushing forward in attacks.

Diaby in action.

But I don't think he will make it in the first team squad when he does eventually return to full fitness again (whenever that may be), considering the current crop of talent Wenger has at his disposal. It is a shame for a player who is as good a footballer as Diaby is, but I don't think Wenger will be able to back him any further when his contract expires in summer 2015.

Will he try to move on then perhaps? However even if he wants to try elsewhere after signing for us from Auxerre in 2006, who would want to risk signing a player as injury prone as Diaby? It's a sorry state for a player who, on his day, can grace any side's midfield but will not even be in contention for France's World Cup team in Brazil later this year.

I am sure however, that I write and speak on behalf of all Arsenal fans in wishing Abou Diaby as fast a recovery as possible, and that he suffers no more setbacks.

Yep, that's Gael Clichy in the background!

Lukas Podolski: winger or striker?

Arsenal had to up their game yesterday against Fulham and they grabbed two second half goals, thanks to Santi Cazorla's strikes, to maintain their slender lead at the top of the Premier League table.

It's great to know we have the attacking force in the likes of Cazorla, but as I have mentioned before, it is our options actually up-front that lack the quality to put teams behind. Lukas Podolski came on in the second half yesterday and his presence on the field instantly gave us a new dimension going forward.

The German international has only recently come back into the team following a four-and-a-half-month injury lay off so I can understand Wenger easing him back into the first team, but he openly revealed he sees Podolski more of a left winger.

There aren't many players who can boast as strong a left foot as Podolski and he is a proven goalscorer, with 120 club career goals for Cologne, Bayern Munich and Arsenal (www.soccerbase.com).

And following our 2-0 win at Emirates Stadium, Wenger, speaking to the media in his post match press conference, said: "Lukas has a fantastic spirit and attitude and he showed that when he came on. When he comes in he gives us something...if he is in front of goal and you give him once chance, you score with him. He doesn't hit it into the stand" (www.arsenal.com). Surely he is describing the attitude and abilities of a striker!

Our number 9 looked fit, sharp and strong, and proved he knows where the goal is, forcing Maarten Stekelenburg into a fine save, before hitting the post with a fierce strike. Giroud who started on the other hand, continues to show his incompetence as a leading striker.

Should Giroud's place be up for grabs?

A tall player who likes to use his head yes, but he's all too often unable to hit the target. He had one opportunity yesterday which lingers in my memory when attempting a curling effort into the corner of the goal - the type of shot graced by the likes of Bergkamp, Henry and Van Persie - definitely not Giroud. He can score, but being inconsistent and frustrating is not the requirements of a striker in the Premier League.

I wish Wenger would consider Podolski for the central striker role from now on in. Giroud has lost the kind of form he had at the start of the season, though even then he still needed chance after chance. Podolski will take his chance with both feet knowing Walcott is out for the season, and with Bendtner sidelined too. There are no words for Park who occasionally warms up the bench and Yaya Sanogo appears to be sidelined still and definitely not ready for the ability of the Premier League.

Of course we are still in the January transfer window and rumours are circulating of a bid for Schalke's wonder-kid Julian Draxler, who can play both as an attacking midfielder and striker. Wenger continues to keep his lips sealed on any move in the transfer market so we'll just have to wait and see what happens there. 

Podolski will be keen to add to his goals tally for the remainder of the current campaign.

Mesut Ozil: A player seeking form

Mesut Ozil's somewhat dip in performance rate of late has been picked up in the Metro newspaper, something which I have noted in the last few weeks.

Reading Gavin Brown's article on the train this morning, he isn't particularly downgrading or calling Ozil a bad player (that would be absurd) but he is maybe missing the winter break he became accustomed to back in Spain. He is 'missing in action', as Brown puts it.

As I said in a previous post, perhaps he is feeling the pressure of his high price tag, while his slight injury picked up in the last couple of months will have hindered him after his fine start since joining from Read Madrid in August.

But yes I agree with Brown's point regarding the winter break also, and he suggests Ozil is perhaps in a winter-break mindset. If that is the case, let's hope he picks up form shortly. In contrast however, Ozil recently revealed how he is enjoying playing in England without the winter break he has become accustomed to. He revealed he wants to continue improving, which he may have to based on his recent form, and puts a lot of that down to playing more regular games which happens during the winter period. Maybe he is putting too much pressure on himself?

I think a lot of fans are choosing to ignore Ozil's dip in form, perhaps not wanting to come to terms with our expensive talisman being in need of finding his way again.  Of course there is no doubting his talents; he has proven himself in English football as he showed to us all when joining on transfer deadline day.

We take on Fulham tomorrow afternoon (3pm GMT kick off) in what should be a relatively straight forward task. René Meulensteen's side are battling to stay in the Barclays Premier League, with only two points separating them and the drop, with all three teams in the relegation zone sharing seventeen points.

Rosicky and Monreal are expected to return for tomorrow's game. Rosicky could feature with a mask after braking his nose against Aston Villa which forced him to be a substituted sub. Monreal meanwhile should be available despite a twisted ligament in his foot.

Despite Olivier Giroud's well taken and somewhat fortuitous goal last Monday, he still needs to do a lot more upfront to prove he is our main man up-front. Arsene believes in him to prove why we won't be delving into the January transfer market for a striker, but I think I still need persuading.

Enjoy the game tomorrow. For the Metro's feature on Mesut Ozil, click here.

Ozil: the centre of attention after signing from Real Madrid in August

Aston Villa 1-2 Arsenal: Arsenal hold on in a tale of two halves

So Arsenal have gone back to top the Premier League once more following their 2-1 win against Aston Villa tonight, but they certainly made it a difficult task.

We cruised the first half, looking in total control with Villa unable to muster much other than a Fabian Delph effort that went agonisingly wide. Other than that, I can't recall Szczesny having anything else to do.

We looked good and created a couple of early half chances but Giroud, being Giroud, was unable to give us an early lead. Podolski was on the bench for this one, and remained an unused sub, but he should have come on in the second half with Giroud putting in yet another frustrating performance.

The Frenchman did score however in a blink-and-you'd-miss it scenario. Both goals came back to back of each other with our second goal coming only around 15 seconds of the restart. I was still celebrating the first in fact.

Nacho Monreal darted down the left following Mesut Ozil's fine through ball, and the left back's cross went behind Matt Lowton with Jack Wilshere arriving. His first touch was superb as he set himself up for the shot, with his effort a little scuffed as it rolled past a diving Brad Guzan.

Arsenal had been pressing Villa all game and credit to the hosts for once we got the ball back, we faced a well organised Villa defence. But just after the restart Giroud's pressing won the ball back and we darted forward. Wilshere turned provider this time with his pass to the striker who struck his shot into the ground as it blasted past Guzan, who had only just picked the ball out of his net.

Aston Villa looked a different side in the second half however and we looked a little concerning. Christian Benteke, who hadn't scored in nearly four months, was getting into some good positions and managed to pull one back for the hosts with 15 minutes remaining; only his sixth goal, and his third third against us, this season. Lowton produced a great cross behind our back line and Benteke dived in at the back post with a header to halve the deficit.

I thought we would let Villa back into it completely from then on in and we had to ride the storm a little. We held on however, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain coming on late in the second half to make his first appearance for us since the opening game of the season.

If I was Wenger however I'd be pretty disappointed with our second half performance. As has been a similar occurrence of late, Ozil hasn't been living up to his £42m price tag, and even Santi Cazorla was at fault for Villa's goal. I will be happy when Aaron Ramsey makes his return from injury, as Rosicky was forced off tonight, and Arteta wasn't named in Wenger's 18-man squad tonight, presumably with an injury.

Serge Gnabry looked lively again tonight and we take the three points that we knew we needed. We remain top of the table once again, and can look forward to our next home match against a lacklustre Fulham on Saturday.

Transfer rumours: Wenger's keeping his lips sealed

As per usual Arsene Wenger isn't exactly giving much away in terms of his transfer policy this month. This is all very well in preventing other clubs from knowing our transfer targets, but Wenger needs to act soon as this is an important month as we try to consolidate our position at the top of the league.

We have constantly been linked with Real Madrid's Alvaro Morata, though Real Madrid had changed their mind in allowing him to go out on-loan. Now it is being reported he will be allowed to move on loan, with the Spanish Under-21 forward eager for more first team football. Wenger has now played down talks with us being linked to the highly rated youngster, but then you never know with Wenger.

Sebastian Giovinco is another rumoured target assuming nothing does happen with Morata. Giovinco is a versatile player as he can play up-front or across the midfield and is known for his freekicks particularly. The 26-year-old rose through the Juventus ranks with loans spells at Empoli and Parma but has struggled to secure a spot in the Juventus first team this season. For me, I don't think there is enough in this rumour to suggest he is the type of player Wenger sees as a needed striker.

Diego Costa is a player I have heard a lot more about. The Atletico Madrid striker, who is reported to have suffered xenophobic chants in Madrid's match against Valencia, may be looking for a temporary move away. The 25-year-old has been in fine form this season for Atletico with 23 goals in 21 appearances to his name, across the La Ligo and UEFA Champions League. And if you're into your betting, the odds of us signing the Brazilian striker have dropped making us favourites. It might be difficult to sign a player of his quality this month however, with Atletico Madrid surely wanting to hold onto him, meaning he is more likely to be a summer target.

I've mentioned Chicortio Hernandez before and I think he is a great forward for any team. Rumours surrounding any potential move for the United striker has gone quiet but the Mexican has seen opportunities come few and far between; he must surely be itching for first team opportunities. He certainly has the quality.

Mario Mandzukic remains in the frame, but much like Costa, any move for him would again be a permanent move offer in the summer. He would be a great signing for sure, having proven himself at Bayern Munich and on the international scale, but he faces competition with Polish striker Robert Lewandowski arrival on the horizon, which could force his move. Perhaps Munich already have plans to allow him to move on come the summer months?

What has actually happened though is Chuba Akpom has joined Brentford on loan for the remainder of the season. This will only benefit his development and shows that he is not yet ready for first team action in the Premier League. Park is dead wood at Arsenal and shouldn't he be loaned as well?

Still, Giroud and Oxlade-Chamberlain may well make their returns against Aston Villa on Monday night (20:00 GMT kick off), which will boost our attacking options a little somewhat!  Giroud had recently been ill, while Chambo makes his return since the start of the season. We have a little extra time to prepare for our trip to Villa, with the rest of the Premier League in action over the weekend.

Monday evening's game will almost certainly be different to the one that opened our campaign back in August, and it is a must win game with it being so tight at the top!