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The Weekend In Numbers: FA Cup semi-final focus

In the Premier League, the battle for the Top Four sees Europa League semi finalists Manchester U...



The Weekend In Numbers: FA Cup...
Soccer

The Weekend In Numbers: FA Cup semi-final focus

In the Premier League, the battle for the Top Four sees Europa League semi finalists Manchester United visit Burnley and Liverpool welcoming a much improved Crystal Palace to Anfield.

But taking centre stage is an FA Cup semi final lineup featuring four of the Premier League's other big hitters at Wembley.

First up on Saturday at 5.15pm is Chelsea against Tottenham in a battle of this season's current Top Two, before Arsene Wenger and Pep Guardiola renew acquaintances as Arsenal and Manchester City look to book their place in the final.

Tottenham's Wembley woes

Spurs have been well acquainted with Wembley, having played their Champions League group stage home fixtures there rather than at White Hart Lane.

Much was made of their toils there as they failed to make the knock out stage. Indeed victory proved elusive for the first two home matchdays as Mauricio Pochettino's side lost to AS Monaco (2-1) and Bayer Leverkusen (1-0).

Victory on Wembley soil did not arrive until they earned a consolation win over CSKA Moscow on the final matchday of the group.

The Europa League wasn't much kinder as a 2-2 draw at Wembley against KAA Gent proved crucial in contributing to their exit on aggregate at the last 32 stage. Dele Alli's red card of course had an impact in that match and even Harry Kane, who's better known for his exploits at the correct end of the field, managed to score an own goal.

The last time they were in an FA Cup semi final, coincidentally it was Chelsea who faced them at Wembley, with Spurs losing 5-1 with former Blues legends Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard on the scoresheet that day.

Two years before that, Portsmouth beat them 2-0 after extra time at the same stage of the competition and at the same stadium.

Wembley has also staged Tottenham defeats in League Cup finals, with Chelsea (2015) and Manchester United (2009) beating them in the final.

But on February 24th, 2008, Spurs overcame Chelsea to win the League Cup at Wembley thanks to Jonathan Woodgate's extra time header. Spurs will dream of something similar again in Saturday's FA Cup semi final.

Arsenal vs Man City's FA Cup head to heads

Like Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester City have plenty of recent history at Wembley, having each won FA Cup finals there in recent memory.

But there is little history between them in the competition itself. Only three times have the two clubs met in the FA Cup.

The first was back in February 1904 as eventual first time champions Man City beat Woolwich Arsenal 2-0 in the second round.

Twenty eight years later, Arsenal got a win of their own as a Cliff Bastin goal secured a 1-0 victory in the semi final, although they went on to lose the final.

And the final meeting before Sunday's encounter came in 1971 in the fifth round at Maine Road as a Charlie George double gave the Gunners a 2-1 win.

Arsenal would go on to beat Liverpool in the '71 final to continue a pattern that whichever side wins an Arsenal-Man City FA Cup tie reaches the final.

Given that Sunday is a semi final, that trend is guaranteed. 

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