From a blockbuster tie between Man Metropolis and Arsenal to Tottenham’s trophy dream and Wrexham’s Hollywood story, we select the FA Cup fourth-round speaking factors…Is it time for Pep’s apprentice to turn into the grasp?
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Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta has identified Man Metropolis boss Pep Guardiola for his total soccer profession – however has typically been solid in his shadow
Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola have been mates for greater than 20 years, colleagues at Barcelona and Metropolis and now, for the primary time, title rivals.
Arteta’s hyperlinks to Guardiola predate even earlier than his skilled debut. Each progressed by Barcelona’s La Masia youth system – the place regardless of being 11 years Pep’s junior, the now-Arsenal boss was already weighed down by comparisons to the legendary midfielder and their remarkably comparable kinds of play.Guardiola took {the teenager} underneath his wing, providing him steerage and placing up a chord which might final for greater than 20 years, to the current day.However whereas Pep had gone on to make the center of the Nou Camp pitch his personal, Arteta – caught behind the generational duo of Xavi and Andres Iniesta – needed to look elsewhere to forge his skilled profession. And in 2019, after two years serving as Pep’s assistant at Manchester Metropolis, that very same intuition led him to step out into the sunshine once more and turn into a head coach of his personal at Arsenal.
Simply over three years later, Arteta has achieved the uphill process of constructing the Gunners worthy opponents for his former employers. The title race might be placed on maintain for every week as consideration turns to the FA Cup and Arsenal’s makes an attempt to maneuver nearer to a home double on the expense of his previous boss.
Arteta is aware of Guardiola’s Metropolis higher than anybody, however they’ve had a deal with on his Arsenal aspect ever since he left the Etihad. Metropolis have received all 5 of the Premier League conferences between the 2 sides, scoring 12 objectives within the course of.
Typically phrases, Arsenal have steadily improved underneath Arteta. However on a private degree, there has hardly ever been a lot indication he would escape the shadow Guardiola has typically solid upon him.Arsenal minimize the hole to the Champions League spots to 2 factors final season, however nonetheless completed 24 behind the champions. However with half of this season’s league marketing campaign executed, he’s portray a brand new image on the high of the Premier League desk.Now, Arsenal have the possibility to claim that change once they face Metropolis for the primary time this season. The FA Cup is the place Arteta has earned his solely pleasure towards his previous boss. Arsenal’s semi-final win in 2020 set them on target to raise the trophy in his first season on the Emirates. Now, he is again for extra.Victory in Metropolis’s personal again yard would solely underline the job Arteta is doing in North London, and add to the sensation Arsenal can lastly struggle again towards Metropolis’s home superiority over them – and Guardiola’s over his former apprentice.
Ron WalkerIs the draw opening up for trophy-starved Tottenham?
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Tottenham cruised previous Portsmouth within the earlier spherical
Tottenham’s trophy drought – now stretching again 15 years – is well-documented, however this yr’s FA Cup could signify one in all their finest alternatives throughout that decade and a half to lastly deliver some silverware again to their nook of north London.A visit to Deepdale to tackle a Preston aspect that lie eleventh within the Championship is not the best tie Spurs may have been handed nevertheless it’s definitely not the toughest, as lots of their fellow Premier League sides will attest to.By the point Antonio Conte’s aspect take to the sector in Lancashire, one in all Arsenal or Manchester Metropolis will have already got been eradicated following their fourth-round assembly on the Etihad on Friday. Out-of-form Liverpool additionally face a frightening process at Brighton – the identical staff that thumped them 3-0 earlier this month – whereas Chelsea and Newcastle have already been knocked out.In consequence, the draw has opened up kindly for Spurs. With Conte’s aspect out of the Carabao Cup, 14 factors behind league-leaders Arsenal within the Premier League and rank outsiders to triumph within the Champions League, there is no such thing as a excuse for not doing all they will to raise the FA Cup and declare that elusive trophy.
Joe ShreadReds return to scene of nightmare defeat
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Brighton’s win towards Liverpool within the Premier League
Jurgen Klopp labelled Liverpool’s 3-0 loss at Brighton within the Premier League in January the worst defeat of his managerial profession, which is sort of some assertion when you think about that spans 22 years and 1000 video games.Nevertheless, such was the Reds’ humbling on the south coast that day that few may actually argue with that evaluation from the German, who takes his aspect again to the Amex on Sunday for managerial contest No 10001 and an opportunity for swift revenge.Liverpool noticed off Wolves 1-0 of their third-round replay to arrange Sunday lunchtime’s return journey to Brighton, nevertheless, Klopp has been eager to keep away from utilizing the R-word within the buildup.”We wished to go to the following spherical and we knew already Brighton was the opponent,” he mentioned after that Molineux victory. “My job is to not be huge mouthed, however the concept is after we go there, that we attempt to play higher than final time.”Which shouldn’t be arduous, though Klopp and Co might want to do greater than merely simply play higher this time round to get a outcome towards a staff who’ve triggered them a large number of points in current fixtures, scoring 3 times in every of their previous two encounters.Because the holders, although, and with this competitors their finest probability of silverware this season, Liverpool can have added motivation to make sure this weekend’s go to to the south coast is one to recollect, quite than neglect, on this event.
Richard MorganFoxes can’t afford one other embarrassing defeat to a lower-league neighbour
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Leicester had been thrashed 4-1 at Championship aspect Nottingham Forest within the fourth spherical of the FA Cup in 2022
Leicester’s FA Cup defence ended at this stage final season with a 4-1 thrashing at native rivals Nottingham Forest, who had been within the Championship on the time. Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers referred to as it “embarrassing” and, in his damning post-match overview, criticised his gamers’ lack of starvation and need.Twelve months on, Leicester go to a different Midlands neighbour within the fourth spherical of the Cup in Walsall. The rivalry is nowhere close to as scorching – however Rodgers might be determined to see a highly-charged efficiency from his gamers, who’re as soon as once more in want of a cup run to buck their disappointing Premier League type.The draw has been variety, with Leicester following up a visit to Gillingham, the place they edged previous League Two’s then-bottom membership, with an away day at Walsall, who’re eleventh within the fourth tier. However with that win at Priestfield being their solely success of their final seven, Saturday seems to be removed from easy for the guests.Walsall have scored last-minute winners prior to now two rounds, so will preserve combating till the ultimate whistle, and in boss Michael Flynn they’ve a supervisor who has expertise of knocking Leicester out of the cup with a League Two aspect, having executed that in 2019 when he was at Newport County. Rodgers might be hoping his squad have learnt their classes from final season…
Peter SmithCan Ince trigger a shock on Previous Trafford return?
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Studying boss Paul Ince loved six trophy-laden years as a participant for Manchester United
“It is destiny we’re doing it once more.”These had been the phrases of Studying boss Paul Ince as he prepares to return to Manchester United within the FA Cup fourth spherical on Saturday.Ince spent six profitable years at Previous Trafford as a participant however heads to his former membership seeking to knock them out of the competitors he received twice in 1990 and 1994.Extremely, Studying are making ready to face United within the FA Cup for the fourth time in 10 years however Ince, who scored 27 objectives in 260 appearances throughout his time in Manchester, is relishing the event.”I had a good time at United and received a whole lot of trophies,” he mentioned. “To pit your wits towards among the finest managers on the planet in Erik ten Hag is one thing I did not envisage, however that’s the romance of the cup, is not it?”Ince misplaced at Previous Trafford as Blackburn supervisor within the 2008/09 Carabao Cup quarter-finals and should encourage Studying to their first win over United since 1927 if they’re to make it by to the FA Cup fifth spherical.Studying have drawn seven and misplaced 14 matches with the 12-time winners since then – together with their final six. United, in the meantime, are unbeaten of their earlier 14 FA Cup dwelling video games (W12 D2).All of the indicators level in the direction of a cushty night for Saturday’s hosts, however with a motivated Ince returning to his previous stomping floor, do not rule out a giant-killing.
Dan SansomBoro boys need extra cup glory
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Stevenage supervisor, Steve Evans says the membership’s shock win at Villa Park is ‘magical’ for the membership and the city
Stevenage boss Steve Evans described their unbelievable third-round upset of Aston Villa as a victory to “inform the grandkids” – and can rely on his gamers who’ve “hearts the scale of Large Ben” to ship once more at Stoke.The League Two promotion hopefuls surprised Villa with an incredible late turnaround by scoring twice in three minutes to provide a basic FA Cup upset.Boro have received all three of their away ties on this run and at the moment are aiming to turn into the primary aspect within the competitors’s historical past to win within the first, second, third and fourth rounds on the street.Key to their upset at Villa Park was their use of substitutes to take a extra attacking strategy late within the recreation. Crucially, they had been nonetheless inside touching distance of the hosts after an outstanding defensive efficiency.
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There have been jubilant scenes within the Stevenage dressing room because the gamers celebrated their sensational FA Cup victory over Aston Villa
“The plan all week was make certain we had been within the recreation at 75 minutes,” mentioned Evans. Then he unleashed the match-winners from the bench.Dean Campbell’s recent legs received the penalty off Leander Dendoncker, which additionally led to the Villa man’s sending off, earlier than sub Jamie Reid dispatched the spot kick. Campbell then struck the unbelievable winner to maintain Stevenage dreaming.Stoke, languishing within the backside half of the Championship, should not underestimate their lower-league opponents, who will purpose to copy their dream day at Villa.
David RichardsonAre there extra Hollywood storylines for Wrexham?
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Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney turned joint homeowners of Wrexham in February 2021
If silver-screen stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney had written a script for Wrexham’s third-round journey to Coventry, it will’ve in all probability featured an abundance of objectives, penalties, crimson playing cards and a fairytale ending for the non-league guests.Typically, actuality lives as much as the story. That 4-3 win on the CBS Enviornment has allowed the Nationwide League leaders the possibility to do all of it once more towards a Sheffield United aspect visiting the Racecourse Floor barely 18 months since they had been a Premier League aspect themselves.The elephant within the room and a good criticism of Wrexham’s place as perennial minnows at this stage is that it’s fully due to Reynolds and McElhenney’s cash that they’ve reached the fourth spherical for the primary time for the reason that yr 2000.Besides, they’ve needed to function inside limits. Star striker Paul Mullin was lured from Cambridge to the Nationwide League – however that was from League Two, a drop of 1 division. Beating Championship sides back-to-back would nonetheless be some achievement.And why not? The Purple Dragons have received all 16 of their dwelling video games this season, final tasting defeat in North Wales in final season’s play-offs. For the final non-league aspect left on this season’s event, there may but be one other Hollywood story to inform.
Ron WalkerCan FA Cup-winning pedigree assist Kompany and Burnley?
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Vincent Kompany has led Burnley to the highest of the Championship, having received the FA Cup twice with Man Metropolis
Fairly rightly, Vincent Kompany is attracting many admirers for his work at Burnley. After relegation and the departure of long-time supervisor Sean Dyche, it was at all times going to be a tricky ask to reinvigorate the membership.However Kompany’s Clarets are high of the Championship, with attentions now turning to the FA Cup – a contest wherein Burnley have the potential to trigger just a few upsets.It is a competitors former defender Kompany is aware of properly, having received the trophy twice. The primary victory within the 2010/11 season noticed Metropolis win their first main trophy in 35 years, sparking probably the most profitable interval within the membership’s historical past.Kompany then received the FA Cup as captain within the 2018/19 season, the yr Man Metropolis received the home treble. He’s a supervisor laden with winners medals and is aware of how one can win trophies. It has served him properly to this point – Burnley breezed to a convincing 4-2 win towards Bournemouth within the third spherical.Now, they face League One aspect Ipswich that themselves are pushing for a promotion spot. It won’t be a simple process, however an in-form and assured Burnley with Kompany on the helm might be hoping to e book their spot within the fifth spherical draw.
Charlotte MarshChance for Marsch to fine-tune
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Wilfried Gnonto rues a missed second-half probability towards Brentford
It is near clicking, or so Jesse Marsch says, with Leeds fifteenth within the Premier League desk – one level above the drop zone. The talk rages on as as to whether cup competitions present welcome respite or undesirable distraction for struggling sides. It in all probability differs from membership to membership. However for Marsch this can be a probability to get his aspect firing on all cylinders.Shot-shy Leeds have had three completely different gamers (Willy Gnonto, Patrick Bamford and Rodrigo) rating twice in FA Cup competitors this season. They badly want that type to translate within the Premier League. Will Marsch go full tilt? Uncertain. However his aspect have appeared devoid of confidence in current weeks – definitely missing leading edge. They’ve managed the fewest league wins (since August 27) of any aspect within the top-flight.
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There’s a probability to be barely extra experimental with the road up – Leeds followers have been calling for a primary sighting of club-record signing Georginio Rutter – however momentum is the important thing right here. League One aspect Accrington Stanley don’t have anything to lose, no level to show. The strain is on Leeds to ship and so they want one thing to ignite their, to this point, underwhelming marketing campaign. Maybe some light fine-tuning is all it can take.
Laura HunterFulham out to settle previous rating
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Aleksandar Mitrovic celebrates after opening the scoring for Fulham at Leicester
One of many Premier League’s shock packages. Fulham have lastly remodeled from a yo-yo membership into a totally fledged top-flight outfit this time period, full with one of many division’s most potent strikers in Aleksandar Mitrovic.It is taken the London membership just a few gos to get to a place of stability however they’re now using excessive sufficient within the league to show their consideration to cup issues with out operating the danger of such interruption derailing their season. 31 factors from 21 video games is a superb return for a newly promoted aspect – they sit above each Liverpool and neighbours Chelsea within the desk. Usurping the latter can have offered explicit satisfaction.All of that, promising as it’s, might be incidental this weekend. Fulham face the Championship’s ninth positioned aspect Sunderland, having been eradicated from seven of their final eight fourth spherical ties. The FA Cup has not precisely been a cheerful looking floor.Whereas for Sunderland this recreation marks their first look within the competitors’s fourth spherical since 2014-15 once they knocked out, you guessed it, Fulham. Maybe there’s an previous rating to settle. This was as soon as an all-Premier League fixture, so can Tony Mowbray’s aspect show they will combine it with a few of the finest as in addition they battle to enter the Championship’s promotion image? The end result may be more durable to name than it seems to be on paper, significantly if Fulham boss Marco Silva opts to present one or two key gamers a relaxation.
Laura HunterCan Jones increase waning momentum or will McCarthy flip tide on debut?Nathan Jones has endured a whirlwind two months in cost at St Mary’s.Southampton followers chanted “You do not know what you are doing” on the Welshman merely 4 video games into his reign after a 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest.
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Southampton supervisor Nathan Jones acknowledges his aspect weren’t adequate as they didn’t register a shot on the right track of their dwelling defeat to Nottingham Forest
Nevertheless, aid got here towards probably the most unlikely opponents, knocking Pep Guardiola’s juggernauts out of the Carabao Cup – earlier than beating Everton 2-1 to finish a run of six successive league defeats.
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Highlights of the Carabao Cup quarter-final match between Southampton and Manchester Metropolis
Summer season signing Sekou Mara has offered extra optimism with spectacular shows in cup ties, whereas James Ward-Prowse has additionally bucked his aspect’s rock-bottom league standing with prolific type in a extra superior position.Certainly, Saints’ followers had been cheering Jones from the touchlines going into their cup tie at Newcastle on Tuesday, however Southampton’s revival has waned with two defeats on the bounce and a defeat towards Championship strugglers Blackpool would derail assist.
In the meantime, Blackpool’s marketing campaign has adopted an identical sample, wit the membership axing head coach Michael Appleton and appointing Mick McCarthy final week after tumbling into the hazard zone.
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Blackpool head coach Mick McCarthy says he missed teaching after taking a fourteen-month break from the sport
McCarthy might be on the lookout for a memorable debut within the dugout as a springboard for enchancment. Certainly, there’s motive for optimism: the Tangerines eradicated top-flight Nottingham Forest emphatically within the third spherical.
Adam Smith
FA Cup fourth-round schedule in fullManchester Metropolis vs Arsenal – Friday, 8pmAccrington vs Leeds – Saturday, 12.30pmWalsall vs Leicester – Saturday, 12.30pmBlackburn vs Birmingham – Saturday, 3pmBristol Metropolis vs West Brom – Saturday, 3pmFulham vs Sunderland – Saturday, 3pmIpswich vs Burnley – Saturday, 3pmLuton vs Grimsby – Saturday, 3pmSheffield Wednesday vs Fleetwood – Saturday, 3pmSouthampton vs Blackpool – Saturday, 3pmPreston vs Tottenham – Saturday, 6pmManchester United vs Studying – Saturday, 8pmBrighton vs Liverpool – Sunday, 1.30pmStoke vs Stevenage – Sunday, 2pmWrexham vs Sheffield United – Sunday, 4.30pmDerby vs West Ham – Monday, 7.45pm
