Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and holders Arsenal reached the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday, with the Gunners progressing after repeating the victory that saw them win the title last year.
Arsenal beat Hull City 2-0 at home in a rematch of last year’s final, which saw Arsene Wenger’s side end their nine-year trophy drought by rallying to win 3-2.
The reunion with Steve Bruce’s Hull was a less dramatic affair: Per Mertesacker headed Arsenal in front from Alexis Sanchez’s 20th-minute corner and the Chilean sealed victory with a precise shot eight minutes from time.
Photo: Reuters
Premier League joint-leaders City got a scare from second-tier Sheffield Wednesday before coming through 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium thanks to a 91st-minute winner from James Milner.
Wednesday lost 7-0 at City in a League Cup match in September last year, but took a 14th-minute lead through Atdhe Nuhiu, only for Milner to equalize in the 66th minute before snatching the last-gasp winner to celebrate his 29th birthday.
City’s cross-town rivals Manchester United also recorded a hard-fought victory over lower-league opposition, winning 2-0 at third-division Yeovil Town.
United manager Louis van Gaal named a strong side featuring Wayne Rooney and Radamel Falcao — the Colombian’s first FA Cup tie — but had to wait until the 64th for Ander Herrera to put the visitors in front with a glorious long-range strike.
Yeovil continued to press, but United killed the game off in the last minute when Rooney freed substitute Angel di Maria to run through and chip home.
Chelsea enjoyed a rather more straightforward victory, winning 3-0 at home to second-tier Watford courtesy of second-half strikes by Willian, Loic Remy and Kurt Zouma.
It could prove a positive omen for Jose Mourinho’s side, as Chelsea beat Watford en route to glory in the competition in 1970, 2009 and 2010.
Southampton were taken to a replay by Championship side Ipswich Town after a 1-1 draw at St Mary’s, while it took a powerful late effort by Christian Benteke for Aston Villa to beat second-tier Blackpool 1-0.
Non-league Wrexham of the fifth-tier Football Conference came within 10 minutes of creating another piece of FA Cup history, only to lose 3-1 at top-flight Stoke City.
However, Marko Arnautovic stabbed home an equalizer in the 80th minute before Stephen Ireland claimed a late brace to send Mark Hughes’ side through.
Alan Pardew made a winning start to life as manager of Crystal Palace, who won 4-0 at non-league Dover Athletic thanks to a first-half double by centerback Scott Dann and goals from Dwight Gayle and Kevin Doyle.
Meanwhile, Sunderland repeated their victory over Leeds United in the 1973 final with an identical 1-0 home win over the Championship club courtesy of a 33rd-minute effort by Patrick van Aanholt.
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