Big guns set for FA Cup semi-finals: What time is the draw?
Reality bites as Arsenal, Man City and Spurs book their places at Wembley, with Man Utd or Chelsea joining them
The romance of the FA Cup was ushered out of the door at the weekend when Lincoln City and Millwall, the last two non-Premier League clubs, were despatched from the competition by an aggregate score of 11-0.
Arsenal restored some pride with a 5-0 victory over non-league Lincoln at the Emirates on Saturday, the first team from outside the football league to make the quarter-finals for more than a century. Spurs put Millwall to the sword on Sunday, winning 6-0.
In the first of the quarter-finals on Saturday Manchester City beat Middlesbrough 2-0.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Chelsea play Manchester United tonight for the final berth in the last four. This means the semi-finalists will all come from the top six in the Premier League.
Bad news for Spurs and Millwall
Spurs may have paid a high price for their place in the last four with Harry Kane facing a spell on the sidelines. Their opponents Millwall are also under a cloud after violence outside the ground and an FA investigation into racist chanting.
"Son Heung-min's hat-trick fired Tottenham into the FA Cup semi-finals but their 6-0 demolition of Millwall was marred by racist chants towards the South Korean from visiting supporters," says the Daily Telegraph.
"Harry Kane also limped off injured in the sixth minute at White Hart Lane after appearing to hurt his right ankle but even without their star striker, Spurs, and Son, blew their League One opponents away."
Wenger embraces change
Arsenal fans will have spent the first half of the game against Lincoln feeling uneasy when the non-league side refused to buckle. But after Theo Walcott put the Gunners ahead they exploited their superiority and ran riot in the second half.
Victory against the 93rd best team in the country will not appease the anti-Wenger brigade but it's a start, while the manager has shown that he's trying to deal with the issues facing his team.
"On the back of a crucial drop in form Wenger has actually started the last two games with a new plan, playing 4-3-3 against Bayern Munich and Lincoln to address the malfunctioning midfield by adding an extra man," says The Guardian. "It is revealing that Wenger is trying something tactically new in a bid to save Arsenal's season. It is, of course, a credit to Lincoln that he would play his strongest team, in its potentially most solid guise, against the non-league flagbearers."
City cause for concern
City's win over Middlesbrough appeared routine but it could have been different as Pep Guardiola's side once again failed to fully convince. They face Monaco on Wednesday night knowing that they will have to up their game.
"Middlesbrough are the lowest scorers in the Premier League and lost Rudy Gestede, their striker, to injury, but City endured episodes of vulnerability," says The Times. "Their 5-3 advantage over Monaco, who they play in the Champions League on Wednesday, feels substantive, and yet they are not built for containment. Paris Saint-Germain's 6-1 defeat by Barcelona proves that nothing is secure."
When is the semi-final draw?
The draw for the semi-finals will take place after the game between Chelsea and Manchester United, with four of the big six in the hat. The ties will be played at Wembley on the weekend of April 22-23.
The draw will be shown live on BBC1 after the conclusion of the final quarter-final. That should be at around 9.30pm, but it will be delayed if the match becomes the first quarter-final to go to extra time or penalties under new rules that demand a winner on the night.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The CIA is openly recruiting foreign spies in other countries
In the Spotlight The agency is posting instructions in multiple languages for people to contact them
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
'People want to understand food — but only to a point'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
How do cash-back apps work and are they worth it?
The Explainer Put a percentage of the amount you spend back in your pocket
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
The wit and wisdom of Sven-Göran Eriksson
In Depth The first foreign coach to manage England on football, life and death
By The Week Staff Published
-
The Premier League's spending cap: levelling the playing field?
Talking Point Top clubs oppose plans to link spending to income of lowest-earning club, but rule could prevent success gap from widening
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
English football and the etiquette of leaving the stadium early
Talking Point The belief that 'true fans stay to the end' does not always apply
By The Week UK Published
-
Manchester United and Mason Greenwood: duty of care or double standards?
Talking Point The 21-year-old footballer’s possible return has provoked an outpouring of dismay from supporters
By Jamie Timson Published
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
feature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
‘Genuine visionary’: is Pep Guardiola the greatest of all time?
feature Spaniard has now won two trebles following Man City’s Champions League triumph
By The Week Staff Published
-
Champions League final: Man City vs. Inter predictions and preview
feature Can Guardiola’s team finally win the Champions League and complete a historic treble?
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
By The Week Staff Published