Arsenal and Liverpool aren’t exactly natural allies.
Gooners may not dislike Liverpool as much as they do say Spurs or Chelsea, nor do Scousers hold Arsenal in quite as strongly-held contempt as they do Manchester United, Everton…or Chelsea. But they are rivals nevertheless.
Both are professional foes and objectively great clubs, each boasting a committed and global fanbase. Arsenal’s attempts at signing Luis Suarez for his supposed release clause plus £1 was probably the last time that they publicly clashed.
However on Monday night, many Liverpool fans will be hoping that the mighty Arsenal can dish out a thorough spanking to lowly Sutton United is a sentiment that goes against all the ‘magic of the cup’ and ‘David vs Goliath’ talk around the tie.
If the seemingly arbitrary desire for a high-flying Premier League club to defeat a National League minnow seems a little odd, it makes a whole lot more sense when you consider the shirts that Sutton will be wearing on Monday night.
That’s because the Sun’s logo will be emblazoned on the home side’s jerseys after the notorious newspaper agreed a package with the club to replace their normal Green Go Waste sponsor for the special occasion of televised football.
As you can imagine, the Anfield faithful are only hoping for one result…
I'm always supporting the underdog but on this occasion I hope Arsenal put 8 past Sutton tonight, unforgivable to have the scum as a sponsor
— Liam 🇵🇸 (@LFCLiamG) February 20, 2017
lets hope sutton united get wellied tonight. sponsored by the scum, hope its 10-0 sutton united sun
— David-brown (@brownowl1001) February 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/LFCTactician/status/833658081414365187
Arsenal must pump Sutton. Any team with links to the Sun can go get fucked!
— Raylen (@Raylen_10) February 20, 2017
Because of the whole S*n thing, I genuinely hope Arsenal score at least 19 goals tonight. #SUFCvAFC
— Fitzy (@JFitzy26) February 20, 2017
It’s not just Liverpool fans either…
https://twitter.com/aliwright2011/status/833687208670482433
https://twitter.com/Terry_Nutkin/status/831282261563678723
Sutton United, sponsored by the Sun.
WHY DID THEY HAVE TO RUIN IT?! pic.twitter.com/4enOxLYYLO
— Ellis Platten – AwayDays (@ellis_platten) February 13, 2017
Just seen Sutton United have changed their sponsor for the Arsenal game tonight… to The Sun! FFS!
I hope Arsenal humiliate them. pic.twitter.com/Gvj2df9FXw
— 🍔 Gastro Celtic 🍀 (@Gastro_Celtic) February 20, 2017
Hope arsenal absolutely destroy @suttonunited tonight #Dontbuythesun
— Daniel Moriarty (@mozzerjnr) February 20, 2017
