Ten facts you may have missed from our Emirates FA Cup semi-finals

Monday 24 Apr 2017

Nine goals were scored in two thrilling Emirates FA Cup semi-finals at the weekend that leaves just Arsenal and Chelsea remaining from the initial 736 entrants to the 2016-17 competition.

Here are 10 of the top facts following an absorbing weekend’s action under the arch between the Blues and Tottenham Hotspur then the Gunners and Manchester City.

Capital punishment
This is Nacho Monreal’s fourth season as an Arsenal player but on Sunday he scored his first goal in London.

The Spanish left-back’s only previous two goals for the Gunners came away at Manchester United in March 2015 and at Swansea two years previously.

Future pub quiz answer
Kelechi Iheanacho was a history maker on Sunday, as Manchester City took advantage of a new rule that came into effect this season and made a fourth substitution during extra time.

The 20-year-old striker replaced Raheem Sterling after 106 minutes after Sterling himself, Fernando and Fabian Delph had already come off the bench for Pep Guardiola’s team.

;

Persistence pays off
Arsenal are through to their third FA Cup Final in four seasons, but have failed to triumph in the semi-final on each of those occasions inside 90 minutes.

In 2014 they defeated Wigan Athletic after a penalty shootout and, 12 months later, needed an extra-time winner from Alexis Sanchez – just as they did on Sunday – to see off Reading.

City gunned down…again
Manchester City had triumphed in their last eight FA Cup semi-finals prior to Sunday, a streak that dated back to defeat to Arsenal in 1932.

The Gunners won 1-0 on that day at Villa Park and City fans will hope they do not have to meet the north Londoners again at this stage of the competition any time soon.

Pep’s picks
Though this is only Pep Guardiola’s first season in England, Sunday saw him clock up his 50th game in the Manchester City dugout.

And there was a unique statistic to go along with the milestone occasion, as Guardiola named an unchanged starting line-up for the first time in his City tenure.

Unlucky number seven
For decades Tottenham Hotspur and FA Cup success were synonymous.

No more though it seems, with Saturday’s defeat to Chelsea making it seven successive semi-final defeats, an unwanted and unrivalled record in the competition.

;

Hazard warning
The glaring omission from Chelsea’s team sheet on Saturday was forward Eden Hazard.

Yet the Belgian still managed to have his say on the tie, coming off the bench to score the fifth goal of his career against Spurs. He has not scored as many goals against any other Premier League opponent.

Cream of the crop
The clash between Chelsea and Spurs was the first time the top two in the Premier League table had gone head-to-head in an FA Cup semi-final since the turn of the Millennium.

The last occurrence came in 1999 when Manchester United beat Arsenal after a replay at Villa Park and THAT goal from Ryan Giggs.

No Kane, no gain
Harry Kane continued his sublime record of scoring against neighbouring team’s when he notched Spurs’ opening goal against Chelsea.

The Tottenham talisman has now scored 21 goals in 24 London derbies and comes up against Crystal Palace and Arsenal in the Premier League this week.

Seventh heaven
Since the turn of the Millennium, Chelsea and Arsenal have now reached seven FA Cup finals apiece.

The only meeting between the pair though, came in 2001-02 with the Gunners beating the Blues 2-0, thanks to goals from Ray Parlour and Freddie Ljungberg.

By FA Staff

Top trivia