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manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that Sutton United's artificial
pitch may be difficult for his players to adapt to in their FA Cup
clash.
The Gunners will travel to Gander Green Lane for their FA Cup fifth-round clash with English fifth-tier outfit Sutton on Monday.
Wenger's charges are heavy favourites to beat the minnows at their 5,000-capacity stadium, but the Frenchman is concerned about how the artificial 3G surface will play.
When asked what could cause problems for Arsenal, Wenger told the press: "First of all the pitch. Secondly their enthusiasm. Thirdly that we are not ready mentally for a big fight and think subconsciously that it doesn't matter.
"Look, ideally we would like to play on a normal pitch. Competition is as well to deal with what you face, and we'll face an unusual pitch and we'll have to deal with it.
"We practice inside [on Friday] because we have an artificial pitch. It's not the same as it's a dry pitch, and at Sutton I've heard that's a wet pitch, they water it before the game. So it will be much quicker than what we have."
Wenger's pampered Premier League players will receive a culture shock when they enter the Sutton away dressing-room with it's basic facilities with toilets that haven't been upgraded since the 1940's.
Inside Sutton United's away dressing room. ???? #FaCup #AFC #SUTD pic.twitter.com/eY8EdLo2LL
— Ali Nihadh (@niherd09) February 18, 2017
Kick off is at 21:55.
