By Mystic Morris
January 12 2005

Are Arsenal's FA Cup draws this season an omen? First we drew Stoke, semi-final opponents in the 1971 Double winning year,then Wolves, semi-finalist opponents in Double winning year of 1998....

On both occasions we were not favourites to win, and it took a late run to clinch the title.

So could it be an omen for our title chance this season? Well we all remember the Spurs omen of how they always win when the year ends with a one. Ha ha how we laughed as we knocked Hoddle's boys out of the semi (it willbe good to see him back at Highbury). So I suspect we should do away with this particular superstition.

However, there is still an important point to be made here, and it relates to the previous article by H. Cunnell (see thoughts from abroad link below this article), it is that you should never give up on the title.

 Indeed Wenger pulled a master stroke in 1998 when he conceded the title just after Christmas, claiming it was Man U's for the winning.

Of course it was all mind games, the pressure came off Arsenal and went on to Fergy's boys. A sequence of 10 wins in a row saw Arsenal overtake the Mancs and win it with two matches to spare.

1971 was a lot closer, and Leeds had established a lead up to the end of the season. But Arsenal had games in hand, but the pundits thought they could not do it, Leeds were the firm favourites. It all came down to the last game at Spurs, where Arsenal would have to either draw without conceding, or win without conceding. One - one or even two-one would have seen Leeds win it.

In fact some players were really worried when Kennedy scored at WHL, they had felt more comfortable at 0-0. They feared that Ray's goal would spur the opposition on. But the lead held.

So Arsenal should forget omens and just remember to keep on keeping on. No time to ease up, favourites do not always win.