After yesterday’s FA Cup matches where Sunderland were knocked out of the competition by Championship side Bolton while other Premier League clubs advanced to the fourth round, today’s FA Cup replay matches are a different matter entirely. For one, both of them are being televised and are available to view live on TV and the Internet (for US viewers). Plus, in both matches, there’s an opportunity for the Premier League giant to squash the lower Premier League sides. Or a chance for a FA Cup shock or two if the David of West Ham and Swansea can beat the Goliath of Man United and Arsenal.
For the Gunners, it’s a must-win match for any hope of silverware this season considering that Arsenal faces a tricky tie against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League next season.
For Manchester United, it’s another opportunity to win a match where they can progress into the next round and to increase the chances of getting more than one trophy.
If you’re recording today’s matches, be sure to take into consideration the possibility that the matches may go into extra time and maybe even into penalties.
Starting line-ups:
Chelsea: Cech; Azpili, Cahill, D Luiz, Cole; Ram, Lamps (c); Oscar, Mata, Hazard; Ba
Southampton: Boruc, Clyne, Yoshida, Hooiveld, Shaw, S. Davis, Schneiderlin (c), Cork, Puncheon, Guly, Rodriguez.
Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Coquelin, Wilshere, Diaby, Cazorla, Walcott, Giroud
Swansea: Vorm, Richards, Chico, Bartley, Tiendalli, Britton, Agustien, de Guzman, Routledge, Dyer, Graham
Manchester United: Lindegaard, Rafael, Jones, Valencia, Anderson, Smalling, Nani, Buttner, Rooney, Hernandez
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Spence, Reid, Tomkins, Potts, Diarra, O’Neil, Diame, Taylor, Vaz Te, C.Cole
Wherever you are in the world, follow along with the conversation with soccer fans from around the world. Before, during or after today’s FA Cup matches, post your rants, raves, questions and observations in the comments section below.
