Alan Pardew names team that could thwart Arsenal’s quadruple hopes after Wigan victory

Alan Pardew praised Mikel Arteta for keeping Arsenal ‘focussed’ on all four fronts after the side’s 4-0 victory over Wigan – but refused to back down on his prediction that Liverpool will win the Champions League.

The Gunners produced an emphatic response after their disappointing 1-1 draw with Brentford in the league on Thursday night, putting Wigan to the sword to safely secure their spot in the FA Cup fifth round.

After being hauled off at half-time at Brentford, an inspired Eberechi Eze assisted both Madueke and Martinelli at the Emirates, before Jack Hunt headed the ball into his own net inside only 23 minutes.

Gabriel Jesus finished coolly to put the home team well and truly out of sight on the half-hour mark and Arteta’s men managed to hold firm in what was a repeat of the sides’ 2014 FA Cup semi-final.

Injuries to Riccardo Calafiori and Ben White – and uncertainty surrounding the fitness of club captain Martin Odegaard – took some of the gloss off an otherwise perfect performance for the Premier League leaders.

Arteta’s side will discover their opponents for the fifth round of this year’s competition on Monday evening ahead of Macclesfield’s fourth-round tie with Brentford.

‘I’m very happy with the result and especially with the performance,’ Arteta said of his team’s thumping defeat of Wigan.

‘The way we started the game… you really want to show how much you want it when you play against this type of opposition in the cup and we certainly had that attitude.

‘I was a little surprised with the level of cohesion and connection very early in the match because, when you make that many changes, that can be a part of the game that is lacking.

‘But it certainly wasn’t and we scored some very, very good goals so I’m very pleased with that.’

The comprehensive four-goal victory means Arsenal remain in the hunt in all four competitions this season, with Arteta’s men sat top of the Premier League and still alive in the Carabao Cup, the Champions League and the FA Cup.

A perfect record of eight wins from eight saw Arsenal breeze through in some style as the Champions League group-stage leaders.

Having clinched top spot, the Gunners will do battle against one of Borussia Dortmund, Olympiakos, Atalanta or Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16.

But when asked about Arsenal’s hopes of winning Europe’s premier competition, ex-Crystal Palace and Newcastle boss Pardew told talkSPORT: ‘I’m still going to stand by my backing that Liverpool are going to win the Champions League, which I said on this show a few weeks ago.

‘That’s because, and this is the reason, you have too many winners in that Liverpool dressing room who will focus very much on winning the Champions League.

‘It’s good for their CV, good for their contract negotiations, etcetera, so Liverpool, all in, Champions League.’

Liverpool sailed through to the Champions League knockout phase after winning seven and losing just one of their eight group-stage matches.

The impressive run ensured the Merseyside giants are seeded and will face one of Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge, Galatasaray, Juventus in the next round.

‘I think Liverpool are a great team, there’s no doubt about that,’ Pardew continued on Arne Slot’s side.

‘Look at Spurs, when they went into the Europa League. Their focus was very much on that.

‘Unfortunately, it cost Tottenham their focus in the league and they were getting turned over most weeks.’

Despite backing Liverpool for glory in Europe, Pardew believes Arteta deserves great credit for the work he has done with his Arsenal squad this season.

‘What Arteta’s done really well is he’s kept the focus of the team for every competition,’ he added.

‘That’s not easy, particularly when the team is trying to win the Premier League for a fair number of years so fair play to him.

‘And again, today, he’s done the job again. He’s put a team out that was strong and fair play to him, he’s got another great victory.’

According to Pardew, the difference between Arsenal and Wigan just showed the ‘jump’ in quality when comparing the Premier League’s best and those competing lower down in the English football pyramid.

‘Sometimes you can put a team together and the attributes of the team make up for all the individuals the opposition have,’ he concluded.

‘Sometimes that does occur, but it’s a hell of a jump these days from League One to the Premier League.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Comments Add as preferred source