The draw for the FA Cup semi-finals are all set after a busy weekend of quarter-final action. Of the final four teams left standing, it is reigning champions Manchester City who are the outright favourites.
Quarter Finals settled with drama
Manchester United were the first to book their place in the final four of this season’s competition as an extra-time goal from Harry Maguire sent a resilient Norwich packing.
The Canaries had been hanging on defiantly in the match with 10 men after having had Timm Klose sent-off in the 89th minute.
So they had to work hard through extra time and almost got there. Maguire netted in the 118th minute to break Norwich.
On Sunday the other three remaining ties were played out. Substitute Ross Barkley got the only goal of the game as Chelsea won away at Leicester.
Manchester City had earlier eased to a 2-0 success against Newcastle.
There was also late-goal drama in a gripping Sheffield United v Arsenal tie. Dani Ceballos scored the 91st minute for the Gunners at Bramall Lane, just four minutes after the Blades had managed to tie the game up at 1-1.
Fa Cup Semi-Final Draw
Arsenal v Manchester City
Manchester United v Chelsea
Big guns fill the final four spots
Three of the FA Cup’s most successful sides are lining up in the final four.
Arsenal are the all-time leaders in the tournament having won the famous old trophy an unequalled 13 times in their history.
But they get a tough ask in the semi-finals as they will be meeting the current holders Man City who thrashed Watford 6-0 in last season’s Final.
Manchester United are just one behind Arsenal’s tally of FA Cup wins, while Chelsea have claimed the trophy on eight occasions as well.
Those two will meet in a heavyweight clash. Chelsea and Man Utd met in the 2018 final, with the Blues claiming a 2-1 win on the day.
Semi-Finals & Final
The two semi-finals are being played at Wembley on July 18th and 19th respectively, with the Arsenal v Man City game up first.
Arsenal v Man City FA Cup Semi-Final Odds*
Man City 2/9
Draw 11/2
Arsenal 10/1
* (betting odds taken from bet365 at 23:41 GMT on Sunday, 28th June)
Man Utd v Chelsea FA Cup Semi-Final Odds*
Chelsea 6/4
Draw 23/10
Man Utd 7/4
FA Cup outright winner odds
Manchester City are the odds-on favourite to lift the trophy this year to the tune of 8/13* (betting odds taken from bet365 at 23:41 GMT on Sunday, 28th June).
There is the old train of thought, of course, that now that they are going to be fully focused on defending their title with the Premier League crown having eluded them.
Chelsea are currently lining up as the second-favourites at 4/1* (betting odds taken from bet365 at 23:41 GMT on Sunday, 28th June) although some bookies have them as joint second-favourites alongside Manchester United.
That leaves Arsenal, who have won three of the last five editions, as the big outsiders to claim a record-extending 14th FA Cup success.
