by Mark Bassey

The FA Cup returns this weekend and we are looking forward to some of the interesting ties, that will played from Saturday through Monday.

What are the five things you need to have in mind, as the quest to win the oldest competition in the world continues?

1. How will Arsenal line up?

Arsene Wenger’s men are the current holders of the FA Cup and the Frenchman will be eager to retain the trophy. His team looked mentally and physically drained against bottom-placed Leicester City in mid week. Wenger will be hoping to rest some key men, while also sending out a team capable to brushing past Championship toppers, Middlesbrough.

2. No Chelsea, Spurs and City

The top teams left in the competition are Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool. And all three will fancy their chances of goin all the way, especially with Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur eliminated in the previous road.

3. Between sacked and not sacked

During the week, Aston Villa parted company with Paul Lambert. The Scot leaves, with the club struggling to score goals and stuck in relegation places. Last week, Leicester provided us comic relief, when they sacked and ‘unsacked’ Nigel Pearson. Both teams will face each other this weekend and we will be watching to see how unsettled they are, after the events of the past week.

4. West Brom vs West Ham

Nigeria’s Brown Ideye is beginning to find form at the right time for the Baggies. The striker rescued a point last week against Burnley. He also scored one and laid on one this week, as they claimed all three points. West Ham have lost Andy Carroll till next season and Diafra Sakho – for whom they were almost thrown out of the FA Cup – is not exactly firing on all cylinders. This will be a tasty one.

5. Derby vs Reading

Derby and Reading must be sick of the sight of each other. The Championship teams have met twice already and they play each other in the FA Cup this weekend. The Rams currently lead 5-0. There is still one more certain fixture between these two – Derby’s final-day fixture is against Reading, when they will travel again to the iPro Stadium.

ifreke

Ifreke Inyang is a public commentator and social media critic who has worked with a number of high profile publications across the country.