So a 2 nil win for Arsenal against non league Sutton. Arsene Wenger made seven changes from the side thrashed 5-1 at Bayern Munich and after a week of speculation about his future the Gunners boss looked tense on the sideline but they did advance to the quarter finals. Lucas Perez gave Arsenal the lead after 26 minutes and Theo Walcott doubled the advantage from close range 10 minutes after the break with his 100th goal for the club.
The Gunners will face Lincoln City at home in the last eight now which got me to thinking. Have we not been here before? What if Arsenal win the FA Cup? Will that be enough for the Frenchman to continue? As a business Wenger runs a solid ship. Consistently in the top 5, making a few bob from player transfers and large numbers also going through the turnstiles at the Emirates stadium with good twine made on events and grub there. Do you chase the bobs or put it all on black in the hope of a sugar rush of a Premier League title? Look at Leicester this season. This sounds like a 3am discussion point on a night out but it's one that the Arsenal owners will have to give consideration to in a few months.
One thing is certain there was one big star last night. Sutton's reserve goalkeeper Wayne Shaw eating a pie on the touchline sent social media into overdrive.
No subs left... I'll have a pie. Get that into you lad! 😂 #SUFCvAFC pic.twitter.com/k2m6rjwWZC
— Stephanie Roche (@StephanieRoche9) 20 February 2017
But now it's emerged Shaw, Sutton United's 23-stone reserve goalkeeper, may have broken Football Association regulations on gambling. Its been revealed a sports betting website, offered a price of 8-1 on Shaw eating a pie “live on air” at any point during the televised fifth round tie at Gander Green Lane.
The 45 year old revealed that he took the pie in the club's kitchen at half-time and confirmed that its contents were meat and potato.
The Football Association's regulations on gambling dictate that a player should not “instruct, permit, cause or enable” any person to bet the “result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of, or occurrence in, a football match or competition.” Could be an expensive bite!
Another costly decision
We should all have the message at this stage. If you're going to have a few beers leave the car at home. A drink driving charge has proved costly for global rugby superstar Dan Carter after the car manufacturer Land Rover cut ties with the All Blacks fly-half following what he termed “a massive error of judgement” in Paris last week. The all-time leading points scorer in Test rugby, was pulled over near the Champs-Élysées in the west of the French capital where he blew twice the legal limit. The charge has hit Carter hard in his pocket, with the fly-half confirming the British motoring brand had pulled out of a contract he signed in September last year. Land Rover, who have zero tolerance towards drink driving, have now pulled the plug on their deal with the player. The 34-year-old, who plays for Racing 92 in the Top 14 competition, is currently injured and returned to New Zealand after the incident. Again. Leave the keys at home if you're heading out.
Kingdom celebrations
I've been to a fair few Kerry GAA All Ireland homecomings including when Darran O Sullivan arrived back with Sam in 2009 as captain, so nice to see the sight of silverware still excites in the Kingdom. Fair few out to welcome home the Kerry hero and his Glenbeigh-Glencar clubmates last night following their All-Ireland junior club football championship final success at Croke Park. The four-time All-Ireland winner with Kerry kicked 1-03 in the decider so hopefully he will have a bit of time off to catch his breath before returning to the senior inter county set up!
— Kerry GAA (@Kerry_Official) February 20, 2017
