SHOCK MAN U-TURN FOR SANCHEZ
UNITED’S A HUGE DRAW FOR WAYNE
Leeds. Nketiah, 20, has become a cult figure among the fans who chant his name and the England Under-21 striker celebrated by dialling on an imaginary phone as if they just need to call him to get a goal.
He certainly has goals on speed dial as that made it four goals from nine shots on target for Arsenal in all competitions. He looks a huge prospect.
Howe has, down the years, rested his big players for the FA Cup but this year his injury list is so long he could not afford to give anyone the night off. But a near full-strength Bournemouth still looked second best against a mix-andmatch Arsenal line-up.
Survival now is all that matters for Howe and you begin to fear for a team which has been one of the Premier League’s most unlikely but refreshing success stories.
Bournemouth barely threatened, on-loan Harry Wilson finally testing Emiliano Martinez with a near post shot after 38 minutes but Arsenal’s No.2 goalkeeper comfortably beat it away. Arsenal’s night took a turn for the worse on the hour when another defender, this time Mustafi, fell awkwardly, and appeared to hurt his ankle.
Rob Holding came on but, with Calum Chambers also out, it may push Arsenal back into the market. They have been after Flamengo defender Pablo Marin but have struggled to agree a deal.
Bournemouth did at least make a fight of it in the second half and sub Sam Surridge got one back in the 95th minute of eight minutes’ injury time.
WAYNE ROONEY has been put on a collision course with Manchester United if Derby can overcome Northampton in their fourth-round replay.
Rooney (above) played in the goalless draw at Sixfields Stadium against the League Two side, and now has extra incentive to make sure there are no slip-ups in the replay at Pride Park next Tuesday.
With a number of replays to be decided it was far from a clear-cut draw, but if League One Shrewsbury can win their replay with Liverpool at Anfield they will then face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The winners of the replay between Southampton and Tottenham will entertain Norwich, while cup holders Manchester City travel to Hillsborough to face Sheffield Wednesday.
Leicester are the only other team in the top flight blessed with a home draw – against Coventry or Birmingham, who replay next week.
All matches are in midweek in the first week in March.
Reading or Cardiff
vWest Brom
vNewcastle or Oxford
Northampton or Derby
vvvvSheffield United
Arsenal
vBARCELONA are chasing Arsenal top scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Spanish giants need a new frontman, with Luis Suarez injured, and see Aubameyang, 30, as the perfect candidate ahead of Friday’s transfer deadline.
The Gabon marksman, currently suspended, is Arsenal’s top scorer with 16 goals in all competitions, but has yet to sign a new contract.
But Barca fear Arsenal would value Aubameyang at £50million, a price they would be unwilling to pay with less than 18 months left on his deal.
FROM BACK PAGE agents he will not be allowed to make his loan move to Inter permanent – or join another club.
Instead, the forward will go on United’s pre-season tour with a view to reintegrating himself back into the side under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (below).
The news will stun United fans, who thought they had seen the last of Sanchez. He joined from Arsenal in 2018 on a £500,000-a-week deal but became the biggest flop in the club’s history, scoring just five goals in 45 appearances.
United sent him packing to Inter in August for the season and even agreed to pay more than half of his wages.
He has made seven appearances and scored just one goal for Inter.