FA Cup Action returns with Arsenal taking on City as Chelsea plots revenge against United
- FA action returns with four teams battling for glory
- Arsenal will take on City on Saturday while Chelsea clash with United on Sunday
- Mental Health and Psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 pandemic
FA Cup set to return this weekend with Arsenal taking on Manchester City as Chelsea clash with Manchester United.
Wembley Stadium will play host to two huge semi-final clashes pitting four teams that have enjoyed success in English’s oldest domestic cup.
Thirteen time FA Cup winners Arsenal will take on the holders Manchester City on Saturday before eight time winners Chelsea take on 2016 winners Manchester United.
These four teams would desperate do with a trophy as they wrap the season.
Arsenal
The record winners will be buoyed by their mid-week’s triumph over Premier League Champions Liverpool.
The Gunners have had a roller-coaster season that began with the sacking of Unai Emery last year. Club cult hero Freddie Ljumberg would hold on for a while as caretaker manager before the club hired former captain Mikel Arteta.
The novice manager had in his hands a squad that needed motivation and an injection of a winning mentality that had been crippled.
Pundits and neutrals have applauded the Spaniard’s progress with signs of hope present.
The win against Liverpool brought a smile to the North-London faithfuls who had seen their team lose the ‘Battle of North London’ a few days before.
With talks surrounding the future of club’s leading goalscorer rife, Arteta has called out the board to invest in the squad that is a mere mirage of the good ol’ Invincible Arsenal.
Manchester City
As City laid out the guard of honor for champions Liverpool a fortnight ago, Pep Guardiola had a wry smile on his face. And as he led his team in clapping – all apart from Bernado Silva, the Spaniard was a man in pain. His brief dominance in English football had been rattled.
He needed to restructure his team going forward and made this clear with a 4-0 demolition of Liverpool.
Earlier this week, City got European reprieve as a two year ban slapped on them was lifted. While questions remain on whether ‘justice’ was served, Guardiola and his side will feature in the European stage.
A clash with Arsenal on the opening day of the restart season saw City humble the Gunners thanks to David Luiz’s never-ending dance with howlers and brain freeze actions. While they remain in contention in the Champions League, City will fancy their chances of adding the FA Cup to their basket that already has the League Cup won in February.
Chelsea
The team at Stamford Bridge has had a luke-warm season so far. Some big wins have been tainted with some shocking losses too.
Frank Lampard’s first season can be rated above average considering he arrived just as Chelsea had lost its talisman, Eden Hazard.
While the former England midfielder has restructured his side and introduced some free-flowing football, defensive frailties have cost the side some valuable points.
Sitting third in the Premier League, Chelsea could be assured of Champions League football next season with two games to play – away at Liverpool and last match at home against Wolves.
Lampard knows the joy of winning the cup, having won it four times with the Blues and a win as manager would add some awesome edge to it.
He comes up against a resurgent Manchester United on a 19-match unbeaten streak, averaging more than two goals since the restart.
United has beaten Chelsea three times this season, the first a dominant 4-0 mauling at Old Trafford at the beginning of the season.
Frank Lampard will be hoping to end this streak at Wembley on Sunday evening and will be calling on his attacking side to help him cap off a debut season on a high.
Manchester United
A 19-match unbeaten streak is no mean fete. Ole Gunnar Solskajer’s side has been firing on all cylinders since the restart of the season.
The arrival of playmaker Bruno Fernandes in January appears to have marked United’s resurgence. The Portuguese has added quality and creativity to Old Trafford, reigniting the attacking power of the Red Devils.
Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford have been sensational on the front, scoring with ease match after match. Paul Pogba has also been reborn, with talk of the Frenchman remaining at Manchester getting clearer and clearer.
While concerns remain about United’s line of defence, the clash between the two will definitely provide a spectacle.
