Julius OkoriePremier League Clubs were a delight to watch in the English FA Cup third round clashes on Saturday. The clubs lived up to expectations, bringing their wealth of experience to bear in their encounters with opponents in second and third-tier leagues respectively.
Manchester City returning to winning ways after a couple of poor results, led the pack with a ruthless performance against League two side, Salford City.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe Citizens fired eight goals past their overwhelmed opponents. It was a party-like encounter for Man City who never looked back in their harvest of goals after Jeremy Doku opened scoring in the 8th minute of the game.
Doku grabbed a brace in the match just as John McAtee scored a hat-trick in the 8-0 demolition of Salford, who were left leaking their wounds with unforgettable lessons to learn from.
Man City’s big boys Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden needed only to look in the harvest of goals.
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Though disappointed to have lost woefully, Salford boss Karl Robinson told the BBC: “You always know you’re at the mercy of the quality of the competition. “Man City and Pep have never disrespected anybody and they showed us why they are what they are and why he is who he is. It’s about dusting ourselves off, we’ve come on so much in 12 months and to be where we are in the league.
“We have one goal and that is to get out of this league. This is a glimmer of what we want to be and we know we’ve got so much to improve and we know where we want to be.”
Leicester City followed suit with a 6-2 defeat of Queens Park Rangers just as Chelsea enjoined a cruise against Morecambe thanks to a 5-0 win at the Stamford Bridge. Liverpool were not left out in the party as they ensured a 4-0 thrashing of Accrington Stanley with Diogo Jota and T. Alexander-Arnold on target. Brighton did not disappoint against Norwich City at the Carrow road grabbing a 4-0 win despite playing away to Norwich.
The FA Cup third round clashes continue today (Sunday), with one of the unfortunate fixtures between Arsenal and holders Manchester United which implies one of the two EPL teams will have to book early exit in the FA Cup.
In other fixtures lined for today, Tottenham will be up against National league side Tamworth while Crystal Palace settle scores against League one side stockpot county.
Meanwhile Arsenal boss Mikel Aeteta has urged fans to stick with him in the quest for silverware.
A number of disgruntled fans headed for a premature exit at the Emirates Stadium during Arsenal’s midweek opening-leg defeat of their Carabao Cup semi-final clash against Newcastle.
The Gunners are still in the hunt for the Premier League – six points behind leaders Liverpool – and on course to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League.
They also topped the Premier League table for the last calendar year, but their 2-0 loss to the Magpies dealt a major blow in their pursuit of landing a trophy this season.
The Gunners, last celebrated Silverware in 2020, defeating Chelsea, to win the FA Cup. It remains the sole major triumph of Arteta’s reign in north London and the Spaniard – despite reversing the club’s fortunes since taking over – is under pressure to deliver.
On Sunday, the Gunners will welcome FA Cup holders Manchester United in a blockbuster third-round tie, and Arteta was asked how important it is that the club’s fanbase remain patient.
“In my opinion it is crucial because the success that we have had is very, very related to the atmosphere and the energy that we have created amongst our supporters,” he said.
“We want to win the FA Cup. I don’t expect to get credit (for winning the FA Cup in 2020). I expect to get judged on what we do on the day. And what has happened in the past, in the future, it is not relevant.
Draw for the FA Cup fourth round holds later today.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
