Wenger: I didn’t want to gamble with Lincoln

Speaking after a second humiliation in three weeks by the crack Bundesliga giants Wenger said: “What happens next is that we have to change by winning on Saturday”.

“I didn’t want to gamble today because I knew it was very important to win the game”, Wenger said. I am not too anxious about all the rest. We were killed by the referee.

Add to that Anthony Taylor awarding Burnley a penalty in their Premier League game at Swansea last weekend despite the ball clearly hitting the arm of a visiting player and the call for technology has increased in volume.

The response to that claim was sceptical but Wenger was persistent. I got slaughtered because it finished 5-1, but that is what I decided and I stand up for that – I thought, ‘Even if it is a one in a million chance, let’s go for it’. We have a good united and determined group.

“We’ve got to use it to our advantage”. “I wanted to win the game and I felt as well that the team had performed well against Bayer”.

“They will get through that and then they are two games away from what could be the flawless end to the Wenger era at Arsenal”.

Heads dropped as Sanchez and Ramsey scored a quick-fire double as Lincoln completely ran out of steam.

And while Danny Cowley’s side appreciate the scale of the challenge, they believe they can use the discontent at the Emirates Stadium in their favour.

The home side came out for the second-half and drastically improved from their first-half display.

‘We have to put emotion to one side and will have clear minds on Saturday morning.

“It’s true people have been putting a lot of doubt on Arsene’s capability of managing the team, coaching the team but I think when you get to some of the situation, you have to as well look at the players”.

The formbook also appears to favour Lincoln, says the Daily Mail.

With the score at 0-0, winger Nathan Arnold had their best chance in the first half as he cut inside to force Cech into a decent save.

The National League leaders have captured the imagination with a run which started in the fourth-qualifying round against Guiseley. “It was all us in the second half but you have to congratulate Lincoln for what they have achieved in the FA Cup”.

Did not have the best game (again) in an Arsenal shirt and was awarded a yellow card for his efforts in the first half before Arsene Wenger made a decision to pick the safe option and replace the midfielder with Francis Coquelin.