Arsene Wenger believes that Lincoln will win promotion back to the Football League after their showing in this year’s FA Cup.

Impressed with what he saw from Danny Cowley’s men, Wenger was full of praise of the non-league side who more than held their own for 45 minutes at the Emirates on Saturday.

“It was difficult,” Wenger told reporters at his press conference after the game. “They knocked Ipswich out. They knocked Brighton out. They knocked Burnley out at Burnley.

“You could see in the first half that they had a very direct game, but they had clarity about what they wanted to do and they did that very well.

“Overall I think for us it was important to be focused not to make a mistake. They had a big crowd behind them as well and they had a chance. There was a big save from Petr Cech in the first half.

“I watched them as well against Burnley. They have quality and I think they will come up, yes.”

Next up for Arsenal is a trip to West Brom before another infuriating international break.  We will come back from that to face Manchester City at the Etihad before a midweek game against West Ham United.

The call-ups for this round of international fixtures should be announced this week with England’s team to be announced on Thursday.