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FA Cup semi-finals are set

By Jocelyn Taub

EASTLEIGH, UNITED KINGDOM - NOVEMBER 04: The FA Cup trophy on display prior to The Emirates FA Cup first round match between Eastleigh FC and Swindon Town at Silverlake Stadium on November 4, 2016 in Eastleigh, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
EASTLEIGH, UNITED KINGDOM - NOVEMBER 04: The FA Cup trophy on display prior to The Emirates FA Cup first round match between Eastleigh FC and Swindon Town at Silverlake Stadium on November 4, 2016 in Eastleigh, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images) /
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The FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley will feature Chelsea versus Tottenham and Arsenal against Manchester City

We now know which four teams will be contesting this year’s FA Cup. With Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat of Manchester United the Blues have moved on to the semi-finals and will face Tottenham.

The second match pits Arsenal versus Manchester City. Both games are scheduled for the weekend of April 22nd.

A number of lower division clubs caused upsets along the way. However, in the end four of the top sides in the Premier League are still standing after six rounds of the competition.

Evaluating the four remaining sides

Chelsea are heavy favorites according to odds makers. The Blues have a ten point lead atop the Premier League and Antonio Conte would like nothing more than to achieve the double in his first year in charge.

This will be Chelsea’s 21st semi-final appearance. They’ve won the FA Cup seven times.

Tottenham are having a strong season and are currently second in the league. Mauricio Pochettino’s side defeated Chelsea 2-0 in January so the team knows how to rise to the challenge.

Spurs have played in 19 semi-finals and lifted the trophy on eight occasions.

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Arsenal are currently going through somewhat of a crisis. League losses to Chelsea and Liverpool have seen the Gunners drop to fifth. This was followed by a humiliating exit from the Champions League at the hands of Bayern Munich. Add to the mix fans calling for Arsene Wenger’s head and rumors of player revolt.

Despite all this Arsenal will play in the club’s 29th FA Cup semi-final. The Gunners have won the competition 12 times total and six times under Wenger.

Pep Guardiola’s first year in England has been a learning curve for the Spaniard. Manchester City has experienced some bumps along the way this season. The title may be out of reach now, but City are level on points with Spurs. The club is presently third with a lower goal differential than Tottenham.

Manchester City won the FA Cup in 2011. Prior to that the blue half of Manchester last lifted the trophy in 1969. In total the team has won the tournament five times.

Next: Manchester United chasing Mesut Ozil

These matches should be some of the best semi-final match-ups the tournament has seen in years.

Who do you think will move on to the final? We’ll find out in a little over a month.

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