FA Cup Quarter Finals...

Another weekend without our beloved Arsenal playing, although the women play on Sunday after last nights amazing CL win and the u18s play on Saturday midday.
The FA Cup takes centre stage as it ambles onto the Quarter Final stage. It is an unusual field of 8 teams, but is set for a dramatic weekend of football...

Fulham vs Crystal Palace - Saturday 12:15 - ITV1
Perhaps the most interesting game for Arsenal fans is first up. We play Fulham on Tuesday, while if Palace win it affects our schedule with the semi finals played the weekend we meet them in the league.

Fulham have no major honours to their name, with the 1975 FA Cup final the closest they have come to breaking that duck (along with a Europa final defeat in 2010).
Similarly, Palace have none of the biggies to their name. They have twice reached the final of the FA Cup, but lost to Manchester United both times. Back in 1990 they beat Liverpool in one of the best semi finals of all time before playing out a 3-3 draw in one of the last classic FA Cup finals - Ian Wright netting twice off the bench. Sadly for the Eagles, they lost the replay 1-0. In 2016 they took a late lead in the final, rememberable for an Alan Pardew dance, but conceded soon after and lost in extra time.

A lot of ex-Arsenal players are involved here, with Leno, Willian, Iwobi and Smith-Rowe all at Fulham and Eddie Nketiah likely to start for Palace.

Fulham beat Man Utd on penalties last round, after despatching Watford and Wigan previously. Palace beat Stockport, Doncaster and Millwall.

Two teams in good form and this is a very hard game to call. I will go with home advantage and back Fulham to make the semi final.


Brighton and Hove Albion vs Nottingham Forest - Saturday 17:15 - BBC One
Brighton are another team still in that are chasing their first major honour. The closest they have come is 1983 - where like Palace they held Manchester United to a score draw before being beaten in a replay in the FA Cup final.
Forest have won the big ones, but haven't been successful in the FA Cup since 1959 - the second of their 2 triumphs in this competition.

Brighton have had a tough run already, following a big win over Norwich in the 3rd round they have had to beat Chelsea and Newcastle. Forest have required penalties in the last 2 rounds as they stumbled past Exeter City and Ipswich Town. It was more comfortable in round 3 as they beat Luton Town 2-0.

B&HA are the form team in the league, winning 4 and drawing 1 of the last 5, along with the cup run. Forest have come out of a dip of 3 winless games to win the last 2. However, they are the highest placed team left in this seasons competition, sitting 3rd in the PL.

Two teams chasing Champions League football, the cup maybe a bit of a distraction. However, the thought of Wembley should see both really go for this and I think the defensive strength of Forest will win the day in this one.

Preston North End vs Aston Villa - Sunday 13:30 - BBC One
The only non-PL team, PNE have won this competition twice in their history but not since 1938.
Aston Villa are one of the most successful teams in the history of the FA Cup - but have been on a drought since 1957 bought them their 7th win. They have got to 2 finals this century, losing the 2000 one to Chelsea before a 4-0 hammering by Arsenal in 2015.

Villa will be Prestons first PL opponent, after they beat Wycombe, Charlton and Burnley. Villa beat West Ham, Spurs and Cardiff to get here.

Preston are the definition of a mid-table Championship side, sitting 14th. They have won just once in 7 league games. Villa have a bigger QF to look forward to, as they face PSG in the CL, but will still fancy their chances in this one. They are still in the hunt for top 5 and have won the last 4 in all comps.

Can only see a win for the PL side here.

Bournemouth vs Manchester City - Sunday 16:30 - ITV
Yet another team looking for its first major honour, Bournemouth host the last of the Quarters. This is the furthest they have been, matching 1957 and 2021.
Manchester City have won 7 FA Cups, but were shocked in last seasons final by their neighbours United. They have not failed to reach the semi finals since 2018, winning in 2019 and 2023 and despite questionable form this season they are the competition favourites.

The Cherries have beaten West Brom, Everton and Wolves (on pens) to get to this stage. City will be facing PL for the first time in this run, having had wins over Salford, Leyton Orient and Plymouth in a very favourable draw to this point.

The FA Cup has proved a distraction from a poor run of League form for Bournemouth, 3 defeats and a draw in the last 4 as their European hopes have been dented. City, though, only have one win in 4 league games and were also knocked out of the CL.

Still think City will win something this season - and this is their best hope of just 2 chances (if you include the Club World Cup as this season). As such, I am going for an away win.



This season offers a real chance for a new name on a major trophy, hopefully it will lead to 4 quarters of exciting, thrill-a-minute football.