Good morning, everyone.
It’s a quiet one today in terms of news, at least for now. Who knows what might pop up as the day unfolds?
Yesterday’s FA Cup matches had their moments. Fulham faced a tough loss, going down 3-0 at home to Crystal Palace. Hopefully, this defeat will knock the wind out of their sails for a while. Former Arsenal player Eddie Nketiah found the back of the net for Palace, which also has implications for Arsenal. We were set to face them on April 26th, but with the FA Cup semi-finals around that time, our game will need rescheduling.
For those who’ve already made plans from afar, this kind of fixture shuffle is a real headache, but that’s football for you—unpredictable. There’s no word yet on the new date, and should Arsenal progress further in Europe, it might get even trickier to pin down. Fingers crossed it does get that tricky!
Elsewhere in the quarter-finals, Brighton’s run came to an end in a penalty shootout against Nottingham Forest, who are having a stellar season. They’re riding high in the league and now have a semi-final on the cards. Hats off to them, but I must admit, I’m savoring the fact their manager might be feeling down. Sorry, Danny Welbeck, it’s nothing personal if you’re affected too. Today’s line-up sees Preston taking on Aston Villa and Bournemouth playing host to Man City.
Speaking of City, I’m rooting for Bournemouth—not just because facing City in a final is tiresome, but because having a fresh face lift the trophy would be exciting. Despite what some might say about the FA Cup’s relevance, it’s a storied competition. Whether you’re at Wembley or on the sofa, lifting that cup is a fantastic achievement. So, City, it’s a no from me.
I’ve been impressed with what Andoni Iraola has achieved at Bournemouth. They play such an entertaining brand of football. I really hope he stays put and doesn’t get swayed by other offers since that path is a notorious one filled with pitfalls. It’s a tough road, Andoni, so tread carefully!
On another note, don’t miss Arsenal Women’s game this afternoon against Crystal Palace. Tim’s got a detailed preview ready on Arseblog News. Have a stellar Sunday, and for those enjoying extended daylight, thanks to the clock change, make the most of it. I’ll be back with more, including an Arsecast Extra, tomorrow.
Take care!
