Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal, the last four winners of football’s oldest cup competition, advanced to the penultimate round with victories outside this weekend in England.
On Sunday, Arsenal needed a second-half injury time goal from midfielder Dani Ceballos to advance to Sheffield. That was after the Blades leveled in the 87th minute through David McGoldrick.
Sheffield United, an impressive eighth in the Premier League after being promoted from the second tier, had two goals annulled for offside. However, on both occasions they seemed to be the right decisions.
Relief for Arteta
Arsenal is below Sheffield United in the top flight, but won for the second consecutive game. He also leads with 13 FA Cup titles, one more than Manchester United.
“I am really satisfied with the result. This is a difficult place to achieve and win,” Arteta told reporters. “After accepting so late, showing the reaction is not easy and it’s very nice and we are back at Wembley.”
“It is a great opportunity to try to win a title and play in Europe. We still have to improve in many areas, but each victory gives you a little bit of credit and encouragement. I hope we can get some momentum.”
Chelsea currently ranks last in the Champions League fourth, one position behind Leicester. But Leicester is struggling now, he hasn’t won since the return of English football.
And top scorer Jamie Vardy has yet to find the bottom of the net since the restart.
Chelsea benefited from the best opportunities, with Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel making a good save to deny American international Christian Pulisic in the first half.
It wasn’t the best game for the Blues, but Chelsea improved after the interval and took the winner in the 63rd minute when Ross Barkley found Willian’s cross for his third goal in the competition this season.
Willy Caballero hit a cross on Chelsea’s goal in the final minutes, but defender César Azpilicueta rescued him by blocking Caglar Soyuncu’s header.
Schmeichel then denied Barkley with Leicester stretched to limit the damage.
Lampard’s honest assessment
“It was a lethargic performance on our part,” admitted Chelsea manager Frank Lampard on his club’s website.
“The second half, we got a glimpse (our good play) and I am delighted to have broken the tie. However, if we played other games like we did today, then there’s no chance. We were lucky today.”
Manchester City did not need luck at Newcastle at the start of the match. As in their league clash in November, City dominated possession, especially in the first half. That ended 2-2.
But Newcastle failed to tie City on Sunday, meaning the Magpies’ trophy drought of around 50 years persists. Meanwhile, City are on their way to a triple cup, having won the League Cup this season and still in contention in the Champions League after having an advantage in the first leg over Real Madrid in the round of 16. end.
“Now in the Premier League, we have a little trouble concentrating,” Guardiola, whose team lost to Chelsea last week to officially give Liverpool the title, told the BBC. “But now, of course, the FA Cup and the Champions League, it’s a little bit different in that being at Wembley again, we were the winners last season.”
“We are in the semifinals again, so that is very good and, of course, preparing at the end of the season for Real Madrid.”
Birthday goal for de Bruyne
Birthday boy Kevin de Bruyne celebrated his 29th birthday by opening the scoring from the penalty spot in the 37th minute after Fabian Schar pushed Gabriel Jesus, by the injured Sergio Agüero, into the box.
Newcastle opened in the second half instead of sitting and should have leveled. But Dwight Gayle, who had just come in as a substitute, jumped over the crossbar from close range. It was one of the failures of the season.
Almost immediately the home team had to pay, as Raheem Sterling’s effort from outside the box beat Karl Darlow in the 68th minute.
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