adminLONDON. — Middlesbrough were rewarded for beating Manchester City with a trip to FA Cup holders Arsenal while Chelsea’s conquerors Bradford City host Sunderland or Fulham after the fifth round draw on Monday night.
Third tier Bradford and Championship (second tier) Middlesbrough overcame the odds to register two of the biggest FA Cup shocks in recent memory. Bradford trailed 2-0 against Premier League leaders Chelsea before mounting a stunning fightback to win 4-2 while Middlesbrough outplayed City to claim a 2-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium. “I’d prefer (to play) Sunderland to be fair,” Bradford co-chairman Mark Lawn told Sky Sports.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have completed the £11.3million signing of defender Gabriel Paulista after the Brazilian was finally granted a work permit.
The centre-back, who has joined from Villareal, could go straight into Arsene Wenger’s side to face Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.Paulista was granted his permit under the under the FA’s “exceptional talent” guidelines. The long-running wrangle came about because Paulista has not been capped by Brazil at any level but Arsenal successfully appealed, arguing he was of sufficiently high calibre and would “contribute significantly to the development of the game” in England.
The FA Cup fifth round draw:
Crystal Palace v Liverpool/Bolton
Arsenal v Middlesbrough
Aston Villa v Leicester
West Bromwich v West Ham
Bradford v Sunderland/Fulham
Blackburn v Stoke
Derby v Reading
Preston/Sheffield United v Cambridge/Manchester United
Ties to be played on the weekend of 14-15 February. — AFP/ The Daily Express.
Online Reporter