Arsenal’s hopes of lifting a first trophy in eight years rests solely in Europe as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Championship side Blackburn Rovers in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Colin Kazim-Richard’s 72nd minutes strike was enough to secure a quarter final tie with Millwall, and hand Arsene Wenger his first defeat by a lower league side in this competition since taking charge in 1996.
Tuesday’s Champions League tie with Bayern Munich was clearly on Wenger’s mind, as he started the game with Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott, Santi Cazorla and Lukas Podolski on the bench.
All but Podolski entered the field on 70 minutes, though they could do nothing about Kazim-Richards somewhat fortunate follow up to Martin Olsson’s shot.
However, despite the odds being against Arsenal ending their silverware drought, The Sun claims that Wenger will be offered a two year extension to his contract which would take him to twenty years’ service with the club.
Meanwhile, the same newspaper has linked the club with a £10 million pound move for Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes, who is set to leave the Spanish giants in the summer though his £120,000 per week wages could prove to be a stumbling block.
