FA Cup 2016/17

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There was something of a local feel to The Emirates FA Cup fourth round proper draw at BT Tower on Monday evening 9th January.

Former FA Cup winners Michael Owen and Martin Keown pulled the ties out of the hat, live on BT Sport ahead of the final third round tie between Cambridge United and Leeds United. The outcome of the draw revealing an all-East Midlands clash between Derby County and Leicester City, a west London derby between Chelsea and Brentford and a short journey for Wigan Athletic to face holders Manchester United, with Latics boss Warren Joyce having only recently left his coaching role at Old Trafford to take over at the DW Stadium.

Fourth round ties will take place across the weekend of Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th January 2017, with winning clubs receiving £90,000 from The FA’s prize fund.

The Draw:

1 Tottenham Hotspur v Wycombe Wanderers
2 Derby County v Leicester City
3 Oxford United v Newcastle United
4 Sutton United v Leeds United
5 Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers
6 Southampton v Arsenal
7 Lincoln City v Brighton & Hove Albion
8 Chelsea v Brentford
9 Manchester United v Wigan Athletic
10 Millwall v Watford
11 Rochdale v Huddersfield Town
12 Burnley v Bristol City
13 Blackburn Rovers v Blackpool
14 Fulham v Hull City
15 Middlesbrough v Accrington Stanley
16 Crystal Palace v Manchester City

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4th Round Proper

Friday 27th January 2017

No. Home - Away

2 Derby County FC 2 - 2 Leicester City FC

Saturday 28th January 2017

No. Home - Away

1 Tottenham Hotspur FC 4 - 3 Wycombe Wanderers FC

3 Oxford United FC 3 - 0 Newcastle United FC

5 Liverpool FC 1 - 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC

6 Southampton FC 0 - 5 Arsenal FC

7 Lincoln City FC 3 - 1 Brighton & Hove Albion FC

8 Chelsea FC 4 - 0 Brentford FC

11 Rochdale AFC 0 - 4 Huddersfield Town FC

12 Burnley FC 2 - 0 Bristol City FC

13 Blackburn Rovers FC 2 - 0 Blackpool FC

15 Middlesbrough FC 1 - 0 Accrington Stanley FC

16 Crystal Palace FC 0 - 3 Manchester City FC

Sunday 29th January 2017

No. Home - Away

4 Sutton United FC 1 - 0 Leeds United AFC

9 Manchester United FC 4 - 0 Wigan Athletic FC

10 Millwall FC 1 - 0 Watford FC

14 Fulham FC 4 - 1 Hull City


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Non-League Sutton United will entertain 12-time winners Arsenal after the Emirates FA Cup fifth round draw was made on Monday evening. Paul Doswell's side edged Leeds United in round four and were rewarded with a glamour tie at Gander Green Lane. Lincoln City, the only other National League side left in the competition, will travel to Premier League outfit Burnley. There is a London derby between Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur while holders Manchester United face Blackburn Rovers.

The last-16 ties will be played across the weekend of Saturday 18th February, with the winning clubs receiving £180,000 from The FA prize fund.

Fifth Round draw:

Burnley v Lincoln City
Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur
Blackburn Rovers v Manchester United
Sutton United v Arsenal
Middlesbrough v Oxford United
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Chelsea
Huddersfield Town v Manchester City
Millwall v Derby County or Leicester City

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4th Round Proper

Wednesday 8th February 2017

No. Home - Away

2R Leicester City FC 3 - 1 Derby County FC

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5th Round Proper

Saturday 18th February 2017

No. Home - Away

1 Burnley FC 0 - 1 Lincoln City FC

5 Middlesbrough FC 3 - 2 Oxford United FC

6 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 0 - 2 Chelsea FC

7 Huddersfield Town FC 0 - 0 Manchester City FC

8 Millwall FC 1 - 0 Leicester City FC


Sunday 19th February 2017

No. Home - Away

2 Fulham FC 0 - 3 Tottenham Hotspur FC

3 Blackburn Rovers FC 1 - 2 Manchester United FC


Monday 20th February 2017

No. Home - Away

4 Sutton United FC 0 - 2 Arsenal FC

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Holders Manchester United will take on Chelsea in the quarter final of the Emirates FA Cup after the draw was made by Owen Hargreaves and Chris Sutton on Sunday evening 19th February.

Non-league Lincoln City will travel to 12-time winners Arsenal following their stunning win over Premier League outfit Burnley. There is a London derby in the shape of Tottenham v Millwall while Middlesbrough will entertain either Huddersfield Town or Manchester City.

The quarter final ties will take place over the weekend of Saturday 11th March.
Each winning club will receive £360,000 from The FA prize fund.

Quarter final draw

Chelsea v Manchester United
Middlesbrough v Huddersfield Town or Manchester City
Tottenham Hotspur v Millwall
Arsenal v Lincoln City

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5th Round Proper

Wednesday 1st March 2017

No. Home - Away

7R Manchester City FC 5 - 1 Huddersfield Town FC

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Quarter Final

Saturday 11th March 2017

No. Home - Away

2 Middlesbrough FC 0 - 2 Manchester City FC

4 Arsenal FC 5 - 0 Lincoln City FC


Sunday 12th March 2017

No. Home - Away

3 Tottenham Hotspur FC 6 - 0 Millwall FC


Monday 13th March 2017

No. Home - Away

1 Chelsea FC 1 - 0 Manchester United FC

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Chelsea will meet Tottenham Hotspur in The Emirates FA Cup semi-final, 50 years on from meeting in the FA Cup Final. Spurs, who lifted the FA Cup for the eighth and last time in 1991, beat Millwall 6 - 0 in Sunday's quarter-final. N'Golo Kante's goal separated Chelsea and Manchester United on Monday. The Blues have won the FA Cup five times since the turn of the Millennium. 

Manchester City, began the weekend with a 2 - 0 victory at Middlesbrough, and they will take on Arsenal in the last four. The Gunners, targeting a record 13th FA Cup, ended Lincoln City's dream on Saturday evening with an emphatic 5 - 0 win.

1 Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur

2 Arsenal v Manchester City

The semi-finals will be played at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 22nd April and Sunday 23rd April 2017.

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Semi Final

Saturday 22nd April 2017

No. Home - Away

1 Chelsea FC 4 - 2 Tottenham Hotspur FC


Sunday 23rd April 2017

No. Home - Away

2 Arsenal FC 2 - 1 Manchester City FC

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Chelsea became the first team to book their place in The Emirates FA Cup Final, after coming out 4 - 2 winners in a thrilling semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur.
The win means Antonio Conte’s side took a big step towards their target of a domestic double, with Spurs also proving their closest rivals in the chase for the Premier League title. But a brace from Willian along with second-half strikes from Eden Hazard and Nemanja Matic proved enough for them to seal their Wembley return on 27th May.

They had to earn their win though, with Spurs pushing them all the way and scoring two equalisers through Harry Kane and Dele Alli to set up a nail-biting contest, until two late goals from sub Hazard and Matic settled the game. Chelsea had earlier made a dream start to the game, as a swift counter attack in the fourth minute saw Pedro upended by Toby Alderweireld just outside the box. And when Willian curled an exquisite free-kick around the wall, Spurs captain Hugo Lloris was helpless to stop it nestling in the corner to give Conte’s side the early advantage. Spurs hit back just over ten minutes later though, when a cleared corner was worked back to Christian Eriksen on the right. He weighed up his options before whipping a pacy cross into the middle, to which Kane stooped and flicked a header on into the far corner.
But with half time just two minutes away Chelsea were handed the lead again when Heung-Min Son, playing as a left wing-back, tripped Victor Moses in the box at the expense of a penalty. Willian made no mistake, tucking away a low spot-kick to collect his second of the day. It didn’t take Spurs long to level things up again though as a finely-weighted pass into the box from Eriksen saw Alli nip in front of David Luiz to smash home a first-time shot past the helpless Thibaut Courtois just seven minutes after the re-start. With that, Conte elected to introduce his big-hitters with Diego Costa and Hazard brought on and they were shortly followed by Cesc Fabregas as the Blues decided to go for broke. And the decision paid dividends, as when Moses’ corner from the right was only half cleared by Kyle Walker, the ball fell to Hazard on the edge of the area. After setting himself up, the Belgian made no mistake by drilling home a low left-footer to restore Chelsea’s advantage. Chelsea saved the best until last though, as Hazard laid a ball off to Matic, who struck an unstoppable first-time shot past Lloris and into the top corner, skimming the post and bar on its way to provide a breathless end to the afternoon.

Chelsea: 13 Thibaut Courtois; 28 Cesar Azpilicueta (c ), 6 Nathan Ake, 30 David Luiz, 3 Marcos Alonso; 15 Victor Moses, 7 N’Golo Kante, 21 Nemanja Matic, 11 Pedro; 23 Willian, 23 Michy Batshuayi

Substitutes: 19 Diego Costa for Batshuayi 60, 10 Eden Hazard for Willian 60, 4 Cesc Fabregas for Pedro 74

Substitutes not used: 1 Asmir Begovic, 5 Kurt Zouma, 26 John Terry, 29 Nathaniel Chalobah

Manager: Antonio Conte

Goals: Willian (5, 43 pen) Hazard 75, Matic 80

Cautions: Marcos Alonso 45+2, N’Golo Kante 90+2

Tottenham Hotspur: 1 Hugo Lloris (c ); 16 Kieran Trippier, 15 Eric Dier, 4 Toby Alderweireld, 5 Jan Vertonghen, 7 Heung-Min Son; 12 Victor Wanyama, 19 Mousa Dembele, 20 Dele Alli; Harry Kane, 23 Christian Eriksen

Substitutes: 2 Kyle Walker for Son 68, 14 Georges-Kevin N’Koudou for Wanyama 80

Substitutes not used: 9 Vincent Janssen, , 17 Moussa Sissoko, 27 Kevin Wimmer, 30 Pau Lopez, 33 Ben Davies

Manager: Mauricio Pochettino

Goals: Harry Kane (18), Dele Alli (52)

Cautions: Alderweireld (4), Dele Alli (73)

Referee: Martin Atkinson

Attendance: 86355

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Alexis Sanchez’s extra-time winner saw Arsenal come from behind to reach a record 20th Emirates FA Cup Final. So often City’s hero, Sergio Aguero edged his team into the lead on the hour-mark, but Arsenal’s leveller came from the most unlikely of sources – left-back Nacho Monreal hitting only his third goal for the Gunners and his first since March 2015. Arsene Wenger’s team had grown into the game after a tepid first half and got their winner when Sanchez lashed in from close range to set up a derby date with Chelsea back at Wembley on 27th May.

City were the better team in the opening 45 minutes, dominating possession, though they were unable to create many clear-cut chances. Kevin De Bruyne was first to try his luck, but the Belgium playmaker fizzed a 25-yard effort wide across goal. Arsenal responded with a blistering counter-attack that culminated in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain crossing for Olivier Giroud, but the France striker’s header was comfortably caught by Claudio Bravo. Midway through the first half Raheem Sterling was introduced in place of the injured David Silva and almost instantly made his mark, with perfectly-struck volley from the edge of the box that crept wide. With both sides struggling for meaningful goalmouth action, City’s man for all occasions Aguero looked to force the issue, but his low drive hit the side-netting at the near post. Arsenal were on top in the opening quarter of the second half, with Oxlade-Chamberlain at the heart of their best work. Yet for all of their intent and endeavour Bravo was largely untested and the Gunners were made to pay on 62 minutes when Aguero opened the scoring. From an Arsenal corner Yaya Toure stole possession on the edge of his own box and sent a long pass forwards for Aguero and Monreal to chase. The Argentina striker was first to the ball and after a heavy touch knocked it clear of the covering Arsenal defender, Aguero dinked his finish over the on-rushing Petr Cech. The lead lasted just nine minutes though. Sanchez was given acres of space on the right flank to set himself for a deep cross, which Monreal met with a precise low first-time volley in front of the Arsenal fans. With 11 minutes left on the clock Toure looked to have won it for City with a hooked volley from the edge of the box, but Cech got fingertips to the ball, deflecting it onto his right-hand post. Three minutes later City hit the woodwork again, this time Fernandinho rose highest in the box to meet De Bruyne’s corner and the midfielder’s powerful header from six yards cannoned back off the crossbar. In a pulsating finish to the 90 minutes, Arsenal substitute Danny Welbeck bundled his way past Nicolas Otamendi and into the penalty area, his right-footed finish though curled inches off target.

Arsenal’s previous two FA Cup semi-finals had been decided after extra time and they should have taken the lead moments into the first additional period, but defender Rob Holding, free at the near post, headed Mesut Ozil’s corner inches over the crossbar. Arsene Wenger’s team were certainly looking the stronger and they edged ahead when Ozil’s cross was headed back across goal by Laurent Koscielny and fell to Sanchez, who kept his cool to slot in from close range. FA Cup history was made at half-time in extra time, when Kelechi Iheanacho became the fourth substitute used by City in the match – Pep Guardiola taking advantage of a new rule that came into effect this season.
City broke forwards with nine minutes remaining through De Bruyne who played in Fabian Delph to his left, the midfielder’s low effort was blocked by Cech as Arsenal held on for victory.

Arsenal: 33 Petr Cech; 5 Gabriel, 6 Laurent Koscielny (capt), 16 Rob Holding; 15 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 8 Aaron Ramsey, 29 Granit Xhaka, 18 Nacho Monreal; 7 Alexis Sanchez, 11 Mesut Ozil; 12 Olivier Giroud

Substitutes: 23 Danny Welbeck for Giroud 82, 24 Hector Bellerin for Oxlade-Chamberlain 105, 34 Francis Coquelin for Ozil 118

Substitutes not used: 26 Emiliano Martinez, 3 Kieran Gibbs, 14 Theo Walcott, 17 Alex Iwobi

Manager: Arsene Wenger

Goals: Monreal 71, Sanchez 101

Yellow cards: Sanchez 25, Xhaka 29

Manchester City: 1 Claudio Bravo; 15 Jesus Navas, 4 Vincent Kompany (capt), 30 Nicolas Otamendi, 22 Gael Clichy; 25 Fernandinho, 42 Yaya Toure; 21 David Silva, 17 Kevin De Bruyne, 19 Leroy Sane; 10 Sergio Aguero

Substitutes: 7 Raheem Sterling for Silva 23, 6 Fernando for Fernandinho 99, 18 Fabian Delph for Aguero 99, 72 Kelechi Iheanacho for Sterling 106

Substitutes not used: 13 Willy Caballero, 5 Pablo Zabaleta, 11 Aleksandar Kolarov

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Goals: Aguero 62

Yellow cards: Fernandinho 69, De Bruyne 89, Toure 102, Delph 105, Otamendi 115

Referee: Craig Pawson

Attendence: 85,725

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FA Cup Final - Saturday 27th May 2017

Arsenal 2 - 1 Chelsea

Goals from Aaron Ramsey and Alexis Sanchez saw Arsenal defeat 10-man Chelsea to deny them the double in one of the most entertaining Emirates FA Cup Finals of recent times. Sanchez set the tone for an all-action afternoon with the opening goal on four minutes and it looked as though that might land the Gunners a record 13th trophy, especially once the Blues had Victor Moses sent off. The Gunners had also hit the post three times in the contest, but Diego Costa levelled the score with a deflected volley as the match moved into the final 15 minutes. Parity was short-lived though, as Ramsey headed his third goal in the competition this season to ensure it would be Arsenal’s day. 

Sanchez put the Gunners ahead when he played the ball into the box, the Chelsea defence stood flat-footed waiting for Ramsey to be adjudged offside, but the Welshman did not move to the ball and Sanchez was quickest to react, sprinting into the box before powering a half-volley beyond Thibaut Courtois. With a spring in their step, Arsenal continued to control the opening exchanges and Sanchez blazed a 25-yard drive just clear of the crossbar. They got even closer after 15 minutes when Sanchez slid a pass through to Mesut Ozil who lifted an angled effort over Courtois but Chelsea captain Gary Cahill sped back to flick the ball away from the goal-line and a waiting Danny Welbeck. Welbeck then headed an Ozil corner onto the post and the rebound fell too quickly to Ramsey, with the loose ball bouncing off his chest, onto the same upright and wide of Courtois’s goal.

Chelsea, free-scoring in the Premier League all season on their way to winning the title, were being stifled by a brilliant Arsenal back-three, marshalled by Per Mertesacker making his first start since April 2016. Sniffs at goal fell to Costa, who saw a snap-shot blocked by Rob Holding and another smothered away at close quarters by David Ospina, preferred to Petr Cech for the fourth time in the competition this term. Pedro had Chelsea’s first clear sight of goal six minute before the interval, but shot harmlessly over the crossbar with only Ospina to beat.

The Blues were a shadow of the team we have seen this season in the opening 45 minutes but found their stride quickly after the interval, N’Golo Kante testing Ospina’s handling with a rising 20-yard effort. Moses forced a fine save from Ospina, diving low to his right to parry away the Chelsea wing-back’s low strike across goal.
The Gunners soon got back into their stride though and the ball broke kindly for Hector Bellerin in space on the edge of the box after a marauding run from Danny Welbeck, the Spain international’s strike was well blocked by Courtois though.

With 68 minutes on the clock Moses picked up a second booking of the match, referee Anthony Taylor penalising the Nigeria international for simulation.
Just eight minutes later though the Blues drew level. Costa’s control on his chest took the ball away from Holding and his half-volley into the ground deflected beyond Ospina’s grasp. In an instant, Arsenal regained the lead. Ozil looked like he might run the ball out of play, but managed to cross from the byeline and Ramsey was free inside the box to head into an unguarded net. With four minutes remaining Costa powered his way into the box, but saw his volley brilliantly pushed away by Ospina.
In an extraordinary finale Arsenal had the chance to wrap things up through Ozil with three minutes left on the clock, but the Germany international hit the inside of the near post with Courtois beaten.

Arsenal: 13 David Ospina; 16 Rob Holding, 4 Per Mertesacker (capt), 18 Nacho Monreal; 24 Hector Bellerin, 8 Aaron Ramsey, 29 Granit Xhaka, 15 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain; 7 Alexis Sanchez, 11 Mesut Ozil; 23 Danny Welbeck

Substitutes: 12 Olivier Giroud for Welbeck 78, 34 Francis Coquelin for Oxlade-Chamberlain 82, 35 Mohamed Elneny for Sanchez 90+3

Substitutes not used: 33 Petr Cech, 9 Lucas Perez, 14 Theo Walcott, 17 Alex Iwobi

Manager: Arsene Wenger

Goals: Sanchez 4, Ramsey 79

Yellow cards: Monreal 9, Holding 53, Xhaka 81, Coquelin 83

Chelsea: 13 Thibaut Courtois; 24 Gary Cahill (capt), 30 David Luiz, 28 Cesar Azpilicueta; 15 Victor Moses, 7 N’Golo Kante, 21 Nemanja Matic, 3 Marcos Alonso; 10 Eden Hazard, 11 Pedro; 19 Diego Costa

Substitutes: 4 Cesc Fabregas for Matic 61, 22 Willian for Pedro 72, 23 Michy Batshuayi for Costa 88

Substitutes not used: 1 Asmir Begovic, 5 Kurt Zouma, 6 Nathan Ake, 26 John Terry

Manager: Antonio Conte

Goals: Costa 76

Yellow cards: Moses 57, Kante 59

Red cards: Moses 68

Referee: Anthony Taylor

Attendance: 89,472

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