KAMPALA: The world’s oldest knock out club competition is to provide a perfect dress rehearsal for what promises to be an epic Premier League title contest when Manchester City host Arsenal in the FA Cup on Friday night. Mikel Arteta’s Gunners command a five point cushion with a game in hand, ahead of Pep Guardiola’s reigning English top flight champions but the apprentice is itching to show the master a trick or two to eliminate lingering doubts over whether the north Londoners have the durability to last the distance in the face of a relentless pursuit by a side that’s won four EPL titles in the last five years.
Manchester City are Arsenal’s bogey side, with Pep Guardiola’s trailblazers winners in 13 of their last 16 matches with former assistant Arteta’s side. But the north Londoners are crucially, unbeaten in their last two FA Cup encounters with Manchester City. The Premier League pacesetters prevailed 2-0 on July 18, 2020 and drew one-all with their nemesis on April 23, 2017. Arteta, whose side have already beaten Top Six rivals Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea, will feel victory over City is the final mental hurdle in his chase for domestic dominance.
Former City striker Gabriel Jesus, who won four EPL titles in five glorious years at Etihad Stadium remains sidelined by injury but Olexandr Zinchenko is first choice left back at Emirates Stadium, having crossed from City along with Jesus last summer. Norwegian behemoth Erling Braut Haaland, plunderer of 25 goals in 19 Premier League encounters, is to provide City’s main attacking threat alongside wing dazzler Riyad Mahrez whereas Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka are to lead Arsenal’s challenge.
Liverpool’s trip to Brighton Hove Albion is the pick of the Sunday fixtures. Jurgen Klopp’s Kop are still smarting from a 3-0 Premier League walloping at the hands of Roberto de Zerbi’s Amex Stadium based side, so they won’t take anything for granted. The midfield contest between Brighton’s Moises Caicedo and Jordan Henderson is to be of particular interest given the glowing appraisals the Ecuadorian is commanding from football’s gliteratti.
FRIDAY
Manchester City v Arsenal
SATURDAY
Accrington Stanley v Leeds United,
Walsall v Leicester City,
Blackburn Rovers v Birmingham City,
Bristol City v West Bromwich Albion,
Fulham v Sunderland,
Ipswich Town v Burnley,
Luton Town v Grimsby Town,
Sheffield Wednesday v Fleetwood,
Southampton v Blackpool,
Preston North End v Tottenham Hotspur,
Manchester United v Reading
SUNDAY
Brighton Hove Albion v Liverpool,
Stoke City v Stevenage,
Wrexham v Sheffield United
MONDAY
Derby County v West Ham United
