Online Reporter
THE teams that have slayed Arsenal in recent weeks lock horns at Wembley Stadium this evening, as Premier League title hopefuls Manchester City take on Championship high-flyers Southampton in the FA Cup semi-finals.
Victory for either side will see them progress to the competition’s showpiece on May 16, where they will face either Chelsea or Leeds United.
For the first time since August, Man City are sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League table, but a wasteful performance in Wednesday’s slender 1-0 win over Burnley was tinged with regret after failing to build a goal-difference cushion over title rivals Arsenal – scoring just one goal from 28 shots at Turf Moor.
Nevertheless, Pep Guardiola’s troops have boosted their hopes of winning a seventh top-flight crown in 10 years under the Catalan coach and have put together a five-game winning streak in all competitions, including a statement 4-0 home triumph over Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals earlier this month.
Man City, who beat Exeter City (10-1), Salford City (2-0) and Newcastle United (3-1) in the previous three rounds, are now gearing up for a record eighth consecutive FA Cup semi-final and will attempt to become the first team in the competition’s history to reach a fourth final in a row.
Losing finalists from the last two seasons, Man City have been a dominant force in the FA Cup over the years, winning the most matches (44), scoring the most goals (157) and keeping the most clean sheets (28) since the 2016-17 campaign.
The seven-time FA Cup winners, still eyeing up a domestic treble this season, have also won each of their last 21 FA Cup games against teams from outside the Premier League, scoring a whopping 84 goals and conceding only 11 in the process.
However, today’s opponents, Southampton, will take some comfort from the fact that City have lost six of their seven FA Cup ties under Guardiola at Wembley – the other was at the DW Stadium against Wigan back in February 2018. Fifty years on from winning the FA Cup as an old Second Division team, beating Manchester United 1-0 in the 1976 final thanks to a memorable goal from Bobby Stokes, Southampton return to Wembley aiming to topple yet another Manchester powerhouse and become the first second-tier side in nearly two decades to reach the final.
The Saints have progressed to the semis after winning in each of the previous four rounds by a one-goal margin, with victories over Doncaster Rovers (3-2), Leicester City (2-1 A.E.T) and Fulham (1-0) followed by a stunning 2-1 home triumph over Arsenal earlier this month, with former Man City academy player Shea Charles netting an 85th minute winner.
Southampton have transformed under head coach Tonda Eckert and have put together an exceptional 20-game unbeaten run across all competitions (W16 D4), scoring two or more goals in 13 of those matches. Their eight-game winning streak was brought to an end on Tuesday, though, as they were left frustrated by Roy Hodgson’s Bristol City in a 2-2 Championship draw at St Mary’s.
Nevertheless, the Saints remain fourth in the table and within touching distance of the automatic promotion spots – a remarkable feat considering they were languishing in 20th when Eckert took the reins.
While a Premier League return is arguably the club’s ultimate objective from this position, the chance to reach an FA Cup final in this landmark anniversary year offers a shot at immortality that no league standing can rival.
Not since 2003 have Southampton competed in the FA Cup final, and they have unwanted history with struggling to reach the famous showpiece, having been knocked out in nine of their 13 semi-final ties, most recently losing to Leicester in 2020-21.
Interestingly, eight of the nine sides to knock the Saints out in the semis went on to lift the trophy – the exception being Arsenal back in 1926-27.
Success at Wembley has also been hard to come by for Southampton, as they have lost eight of their 11 matches played at the home of football (W3), including their last two FA Cup semi-finals.
Meanwhile, Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been ruled out of today’s match with Pep Guardiola refusing to risk his star man.
The Spanish midfielder came off late in last weekend’s crucial 2-1 win over Arsenal and he missed the midweek victory over Burnley, which took City top of the Premier League.
With the club chasing a seventh Premier League title in nine seasons, Guardiola is unwilling to take a chance on the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner at Wembley.
The groin issue is the latest in a series of setbacks for the 29-year-old Rodri since he suffered a serious knee injury early last season and the focus is on proving his fitness for the league trip to Everton on May 4.
“We don’t want to take a risk because if he’s injured, we are losing him for the next three games, that’s why it’s so important,” said Pep.
Guardiola said that his players would not underestimate the Championship side as City attempt to reach a fourth straight final.
“They have knocked out Fulham and Arsenal so (their form) speaks for itself,” he said. “They are in a good rhythm but this is a real opportunity to get to the final.” – Sportsmole.uk/Supersport.
