Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Holders set up Wembley clash with Gunners
HOLDERS Manchester City will play Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-finals after a comfortbale 2-0 win over Newcastle at St James’ Park last night.
City, who beat Watford 6-0 in last year’s final, were kept apart from rivals Manchester United, who have been drawn to play Chelsea in next month’s semi-finals.
Both ties will be played at Wembley over the weekend of July 18-19, with the final scheduled for Saturday August 1 at the same venue.
BBC pundit Alan Shearer conducted the draw during halftime in the last-eight clash between Newcastle and City at St James’ Park.
It was the first Covid-secure FA Cup draw, with just Shearer – watched by Gary Lineker – pairing up the teams, instead of the usual two guests.
A penalty from Kevin De Bruyne befor the break and a Raheem Sterling drive were enough to see off the Magpies in the last of the quarter-finals.
Earlier in the day Arsenal booked a place in their first domestic semi-final of the post-Arsene Wenger era with a 2-1 win at Sheffield United
Nicolas Pepe’s first-half penalty looked like it would be all that separated the sides but late drama saw David McGoldrick equalise with three minutes remaining, before substitute Dani Ceballos won it for the Gunners in injury time.
Ross Barkley sent Chelsea into the draw after a deserved 1-0 win at Leicester.
The midfielder came off the bench to keep the Blues’ hopes of a ninth FA Cup triumph alive.
Manchester United had booked their place in the draw on Saturday night with Harry Maguire scoring an extra-time winner at Norwich.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s muchchanged side had to dig deep against the Premier League’s bottom side as Odion Ighalo’s fifth goal in four starts for the club was cancelled out by Todd Cantwell’s strike from distance.