Lincoln boss Danny Cowley hopes Sutton defeat Arsenal in FA Cup
Sunday 19 February 2017 20:45, UK
Lincoln City manager Danny Cowley hopes fellow non-league club Sutton United can cause an FA Cup shock against Arsenal after his side were drawn to face the winners in the quarter-finals.
The National League leaders became the first non-league team to reach the last eight since Queens Park Rangers in 1914 after claiming a shock 1-0 win at Premier League Burnley on Saturday.
Arsenal are the heavy favourites to progress against Sutton at Gander Green Lane on Monday, but Cowley admits he would prefer to meet Paul Doswell's side in the next round.
"It's a win-win draw for us. I genuinely hope Sutton can do it tomorrow night (Monday). I think it would be brilliant for non-league football if that is the case," he told Sky Sports News HQ.
"We wish Paul Doswell and his team well. If that's not to be then obviously we'll play Arsene Wenger's Arsenal at the Emirates, so it's a great draw."
When asked what he felt Wenger would be thinking following the draw, Cowley said: "Well he's got to beat Sutton United first.
"It would probably be similar to the last draw, he'll probably not know a lot about Lincoln City.
"We've been dreaming for a long time now, it's been about eight weeks. Who thought a non-league team could get to the last eight?
"It just shows that anything is possible in the FA Cup and in football."
Lincoln return to league action on Tuesday and Cowley joked the winning manager from Monday's tie could be in the crowd to watch their clash at North Ferriby United.
"We may well see Arsene Wenger or Paul Doswell at North Ferriby on Tuesday night, but it's an important game for us and one we're looking forward to," he said.
"We've got a great group of players here - they are really driven, really hard working and really focused.
"Even after beating Burnley on Saturday, five or six of the players came up to me and said 'North Ferriby, we've got to turn our focus to that'. That says everything about our group."
