FA Cup reaches semi-final stage

By Stuart Stone

- Last updated on GMT

End of an era: Arsenal will play West Ham in their first match since Arsene Wenger announced his intention to step down
End of an era: Arsenal will play West Ham in their first match since Arsene Wenger announced his intention to step down
In the first game since Arsene Wenger announced he will be leaving the north London side at the end of the season, Arsenal take on West Ham in a London derby they’ve dominated under the Frenchman’s tenure while the FA Cup, a tournament Wenger won a record seven times, reaches the semi-final stage with three of his biggest rivals in the past 22 years – Manchester United, Chelsea, and Tottenham – in action.

Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur – Saturday 21 April – BBC One from 4.55pm (kick-off at 5.15pm)

While Mauricio Pochettino commented that securing Spurs’ first FA triumph since they toppled Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest in 1991 wouldn’t be an essential step in his club reaching the “next level”.

However, the growing feeling around Old Trafford must be that an FA Cup triumph would go a long way to saving what is becoming an increasingly disappointing season.  

Yet, Manchester United haven’t beaten Tottenham away from Old Trafford since a 3-1 win in March 2012 and they travel to Wembley this weekend having succumbed to a 2-0 reversal at Spurs’ temporary home earlier this season when Christian Eriksen put Spurs ahead after just 11 seconds.  

Amir Khan v Phil Lo Greco – Super-welterweight boxing – Saturday 21 April – Sky Sports Action from 7pm and Sky Sports Main Event from 9.45pm

Manchester United aren’t the only sporting interest from the north-west finding themselves in last-chance saloon this weekend.

Bolton hero Amir Khan returns to the ring for the first time in two years, after a stunning knockout defeat to Mexican Saul Alvarez, to begin his campaign for a third world title the super welterweight division – where long-time rival Kell Brook and a host of talented, but largely unheralded, group of stateside fighters await.

However, the wheels could come off if Khan’s hopes of re-establishing himself at world level if he loses to Canadian Phil Lo Greco this weekend.

Chelsea v Southampton – FA Cup Semi-Final – Sunday 22 April – BT Sport 1 and BT Sport 4KUHD from 2.30pm (kick-off at 3pm)

After being dethroned as Premier League champions last weekend courtesy of a shock 1-0 win for at Old Trafford for West Brom, last season’s FA Cup runners-up Chelsea will look to put a gloss on an otherwise disappointing season with success in this year’s competition.

They face a Southampton side facing the very real threat of Premier League relegation under current boss and former Chelsea striker Mark Hughes, who will be expected to reach their second final in two years.

The two sides fought out a five-goal thriller that saw Chelsea recover from two goals down to secure a valuable three points as they keep their faint hopes of fourth place, and qualification for next season’s Champions League, alive.

However, Chelsea will go into the game without the services of Premier League team of the season left back Marcos Alonso, who was handed a three-game ban for violent conduct after a tackle on Southampton’s Shane Long at the weekend.

Arsenal v West Ham United – Premier League football - Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League 1pm (kick-off at 1.30pm)

The first fixture since Arsene Wenger announced that he will be ending his 22-year stint in north London this summer sees Arsenal take on a side they have dominated under the Frenchman’s leadership.

In 39 Premier League meetings between Arsenal and West Ham during Wenger’s tenure, the north Londoners have won 26 times and drawn eight, scoring 77 goals to West Ham’s 28 in the process.

Moreover, since a 1-0 win courtesy of a Bobby Zamora strike in April 2007, West Ham have only triumphed in this London derby once.

While David Moyes’s side look reasonably safe from relegation, sitting six points clear of the drop zone with five games remaining, gatecrashing Wenger’s leaving party would help round off a turbulent season in east London on a high note.

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