Some will say this has been a great year for the FA Cup and yes, I can see their logic; In a day, we have seen two major upsets with both Chelsea and United going out. And as we look back to the previous round, Liverpool crashing out to Barnsley at Anfield. These were great results for all supporters around the country. We all love to see the giants crash out to lower league opposition as long as it’s not your own team who is the victim.

It pains me to say but I have to disagree. As much as I love the big teams going out to teams 30 or 40 places below them, I have to say that I think the FA Cup is slowing turning into another League Cup. Oh... while I'm on that subject, I'll admit that I was in ecstasy when seeing Howard, Muntari and Odejayi scoring the goals that knocked out the three best teams left in the competition out in such an embarrassing manner. It's one of those MasterCard 'priceless' moments that will never be forgotten.

But as we look at the current stage, we don't exactly have the most of appetizing teams left. I mean, are we hoping to get a Pompey vs. Barnsley final - that's the best game we can hope for, which for me is sickening. All I shall say is that I doubt I shall flick onto BBC1 on May 17th.

We now go back to the current situation in England. The highest placed team left in the competition is Portsmouth. They are ninth. A team barely in the top half of the Premiership. I'm sorry to say but this is really disappointing, perhaps unacceptable for the 'biggest' domestic cup in the country. Most of you would probably disagree with me but I think that the FA Cup is just not worth winning anymore.

I think the league is so important now, for both title contenders and strugglers, that teams don't have time for the cups anymore. Sorry to use Chelsea but it was the best example available. Why spend your time and effort going away to Oakwell to see the far from motivating sight of Barnsley when you could be playing a top-flight team in a bid to capture your Champions League spot but more importantly, keep your title chances alive. Even if they had won that game, it would mean that they would have to play at least one more game. This would have damaged their chances of getting their title hopes back on track. Even with a squad as vast as Chelsea's, I don't think that playing such a high number of games and winning them all is possible. No matter how big Roman’s wallet is.

I know that I have hurt some of you by making the FA Cup look like a burden but I feel that over the last few years, the significance of the competition is rapidly dropping. I hope some of you agree with me.

Let’s put you in my situation. When I grew up, I saw us win the league and cup double in 98. That 2 - 0 win against Newcastle was my first memory of cup final success and like all other young Gooners, will stay in my heart forever. Those Overmars and Anelka goals were the peak of my early childhood. For me, that decided that my life would be dedicated to The Arsenal.

But now, as all teams prioritize the league, I think that going to Wembley is becoming less and less prestigious. Maybe I'm being too hasty but the woman wearing the yellow ribbon is nothing compared to the captain wearing the Championship medal.

Let's cross the water and take a look at the situation abroad. For those of you who watch other European football, the domestic cups are far from competitive.

Just look at the Spanish equivalent of the FA Cup, the Copa Del Rey. The winners so far this century are as follows; Espanyol, Real Zaragoza, Deportivo, Mallorca, Betis and Sevilla. Where are Barcelona and Real Madrid I hear you cry? The two best teams in the country haven't won the main domestic cup in seven years. Something must be going on. But perhaps if we take my idea into consideration, they are concentrating on winning La Liga. The fact that these two teams have been so dominant in the league since the new millennium could be a more than a convincing piece of evidence. I'll let you decide whether this is a good idea for us to adopt.

But maybe, just maybe we should adapt this idea to our game. However, I think that there is a clear indication that this has already happened. The only man who knows is Mr. Wenger and looking at this campaign, I think he feels the same way I do. Although of course winning the FA Cup is a great feeling, I feel maintaining our excellent league position and progressing in Europe is much more important.