Wembley date beckons as Reds face Blues in FA Cup semis

APRIL 18 — So, the English teams have made it three out of four Champions League semifinalist spots yet again.

Ironically, as a result, the past two seasons it has also meant that only an English club has sent another English club out at the quarter-final or later stage. This could change this year of course, if Barcelona have anything to say about it.

Surely such dominance would be a strong indication that the English Premier League(EPL) is truly the best in the world, and most competitive too — nevermind that the same four teams are in it year-after-year. After all, Italy, Spain, France and Germany have the same affliction too, of a few strong teams dominating their league, with an occasional surprise package.

Now, three of these Champions League semi-finalists turn their attention to another important cup semi-final this weekend, the English FA Cup.

Tonight, Arsenal take on Chelsea with a kickoff at 12.15am (Sunday morning, live on StarSports), while tomorrow Manchester United play Everton (11pm, StarSports). London’s Wembley Stadium plays host as the neutral venue for both matches.

The other interesting thing to note is that both matches will have to be decided this weekend as there will not be a replay in the event of a draw, be it at 90 minutes or after extra-time. So, by no later than 2am on Monday morning, we will know which two teams will play in the 126th FA Cup final scheduled for Saturday, May 30.

As far as I can remember, this is the latest date for an FA Cup final. I dare say it is the latest ever date even without having to Google it to confirm the fact. This is simply because the tradition of the FA Cup final is so strong that it has always been played between early to mid-May, that is immediately after, or just before, the last league weekend of the season.

But hey, if you can prove me wrong, just tell me so with the correct online reference by responding through the area to comment below. The first person to respond and prove me wrong will have dinner (for one) on me at the Bangsar Seafood Restaurant, One Bangsar, Jalan Ara, Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. May 31.

By all accounts, the first semi-final is a must-watch game going by current form and especially over the last couple of matches.

Chelsea have scored eight in the last two matches with seven going past them while Arsenal have hit seven and let one in their last two matches. However, Arsenal cannot take things for granted.

Arsenal are facing a defensive crisis. William Gallas, Johan Djourou, Manuel Almunia, Gael Glichy are all out with Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs both doubtful. Chelsea will be looking to take advantage of this. They have been scoring freely lately and will prove to be the acid test for Arsenal’s defensive stand-ins.

But Chelsea will have to worry about their own defence too. Arsenal, like Chelsea, have been scoring freely of late.

So, after watching Chelsea ship seven goals in their last two games, especially three in nine minutes to the likes of Bolton (and at Stamford Bridge at that), Arsenal's attacking players are relishing the opportunity to put Guus Hiddink's defence under more pressure.

Andrey Arshavin is back in the team, in great form and fresh. He did not play in the Champions League in mid-week as he was ineligible because of his previous participation in the competition earlier this season with his previous team, Zenit St Petersburg.

He would be the key player for the Gunners, in my opinion, despite the fact that his national team manager, Hiddink, will be on hand to advice Chelsea’s players on any possible weakness Arshavin might have.

I believe that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will try to rotate the team slightly to fit in Arshavin and rest some players in light of the important EPL match coming just three days after the FA Cup tie, against Liverpool at Anfield.

England and Arsenal winger Theo Walcott insists his side have got their rivals running scared heading into the business end of the season. Who would dare challenge him, the way he’s scored two exquisite goals in the last two matches against Wigan in the league and Villarreal in the Champions League.

Wenger's men have been portrayed as a club in crisis this season, particularly after the whole Gallas-gate — his loose lips which led to him losing the captaincy — affair, but they are now within touching distance of a trophy or two.

The FA Cup does not represent Arsenal’s only chance of silverware this season as they also face a Champions League semi-final against Manchester United on April 29.

This Arsenal has really got their fans going ga-ga in the past month, but Chelsea are arguably the strongest team they have played since regaining their form. It would be very interesting to see how this match ends up.

Being an FA Cup match, I can only say that belief is 90 per cent of the tie, and on that note, Arsenal should edge Chelsea to make a date with the FA Cup final for the 18th time in the club’s history.

Manchester United have been masters of the great escape in the past three weeks. Winning by a solitary goal against Aston Villa (scored in injury time by the substitute Federico Macheda), Sunderland (15 minutes from time, with the same sub doing the job) and Porto, respectively, it could mean that their luck could run out at anytime.

MU will travel to Wembley to meet a confident Everton, who came away from Villa Park last week feeling good about their chances of playing in Europe next season via the Europa League (a.k.a Uefa Cup) by finishing fifth or sixth in the EPL.

While a win for MU would give them further momentum towards the unprecedented five-trophy haul, for Everton overcoming MU would boost their season to a rousing finish and take some pressure off, as even a possible runners-up place to Chelsea or Arsenal in the FA Cup final would be enough to take them to Europe. This is because Chelsea and Arsenal are likely to remain in the top four and qualify for the Champions League.

I believe that fact will surely feed the hunger of the Blues more than anything else, and help them raise their game on the day. But of course, MU will still start as favourites.

Starting as the underdogs, Everton will have nothing to lose by taking the bull by the horns, as the adage goes. MU have conceded a few too many goals recently and you'd have to say Everton would not get a better chance than this.

It is a one-off game and we have seen in many semi-finals in the past that teams who have a good go generally do well.

Should Everton need some leadership on the big stage, they should look no further than Tim Cahill and Steven Pienaar.

Cahill was in the Millwall team that lost to Manchester United in the 2004 FA Cup final. With all due respect to Millwall, who did brilliantly to reach the final, Everton are a much stronger side with a host of internationals.

As for MU, they will definitely look to former Everton star Wayne Rooney. I must say the Englishman is a team player unlike some of the other MU stars. While Ferguson felt the need to offer a mild rebuke to Cristiano Ronaldo last weekend for not being enough of a team player, no such requirement exists for Rooney.

With Rio Ferdinand coming back from injury, MU fans will be relieved that the recent leak was plugged convincingly at the back in the mid-week win over Porto.

If MU are truly back to their best, and wish to announce their intention, nothing less than a solid win to qualify for their 19th FA Cup final would do.

I expect the game to go to extra-time as Everton give it their all, before finally bowing out on penalties or due to another wonder strike from some player with a Spanish-sounding name.