Alan Pardew praised Mikel Arteta for keeping Arsenal ‘focussed’ on all 4 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 within the league on Thursday night, putting Wigan to the sword to securely secure their spot within the FA Cup fifth round.
After being hauled off at half-time at Brentford, an inspired Eberechi Eze assisted each Madueke and Martinelli on the Emirates, before Jack Hunt headed the ball into his own net inside only 23 minutes.
Gabriel Jesus finished coolly to place the house team well and truly out of sight on the half-hour mark and Arteta’s men managed to carry firm in what was a repeat of the edges’ 2014 FA Cup semi-final.
Injuries to Riccardo Calafiori and Ben White – and uncertainty surrounding the fitness of club captain Martin Odegaard – took a few 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 yr’s competition on Monday evening ahead of Macclesfield’s fourth-round tie with Brentford.
‘I’m very completely happy with the result and particularly with the performance,’ Arteta said of his team’s thumping defeat of Wigan.
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‘The best way we began the sport… you actually need to point out how much you would like it whenever you play against this sort of opposition within the cup and we definitely had that attitude.
‘I used to be slightly surprised with the extent of cohesion and connection very early within the match because, whenever you make that many changes, that could be a a part of the sport that’s lacking.
‘Nevertheless it definitely wasn’t and we scored some very, excellent goals so I’m very happy with that.’
The great four-goal victory means Arsenal remain within the hunt in all 4 competitions this season, with Arteta’s men sat top of the Premier League and still alive within the Carabao Cup, the Champions League and the FA Cup.
An ideal record of eight wins from eight saw Arsenal breeze through in some style because the Champions League group-stage leaders.
Having clinched top spot, the Gunners will do battle against one in all Borussia Dortmund, Olympiakos, Atalanta or Bayer Leverkusen within 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 face by my backing that Liverpool are going to win the Champions League, which I said on this show just a few weeks ago.
‘That’s because, and that is the explanation, you’ve got too many winners in that Liverpool dressing room who will focus very much on winning the Champions League.
‘It’s good for his or her CV, good for his or her 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 in all their eight group-stage matches.
The impressive run ensured the Merseyside giants are seeded and can face one in all Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge, Galatasaray, Juventus in the following round.
‘I feel Liverpool are a terrific team, there’s little question about that,’ Pardew continued on Arne Slot’s side.
‘Have a look at Spurs, after they went into the Europa League. Their focus was very much on that.
‘Unfortunately, it cost Tottenham their focus within the league they usually 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 along with his Arsenal squad this season.
‘What Arteta’s done very well is he’s kept the main target of the team for each competition,’ he added.
‘That’s tough, particularly when the team is attempting to win the Premier League for a good variety 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 one other great victory.’
Based on Pardew, the difference between Arsenal and Wigan just showed the ‘jump’ in quality when comparing the Premier League’s best and people competing lower down within the English football pyramid.
‘Sometimes you’ll be able to put a team together and the attributes of the team make up for all of the individuals the opposition have,’ he concluded.
‘Sometimes that does occur, nevertheless it’s a hell of a jump as of late from League One to the Premier League.’
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