Arsenal will be looking to reach their fourth final in three seasons when they take on Manchester City in Sunday’s semi-final at Wembley.
The Gunners returned to winning ways with a nervy 2-1 win at Middlesbrough on Monday. Having seen his side drop down to 7th in the Premier League table, Arsene Wenger switched things up for the first time in an age and played with three at the back.
Goals from Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil handed the Gunners a confidence-boosting victory ahead of Sunday’s match.
Having failed to win any of their previous four matches, Man City won for the second match in a row last Saturday.
Goals from Vincent Kompany, Leroy Sane and Sergio Aguero secured a vital 3-0 win at Southampton that keeps Pep Guardiola’s side in the driving seat for the fourth and final Champions League place.
Despite their poor run of form, Arsenal will take confidence from their recent record at Wembley. Since 2014, Arsenal have won all of their six matches at national stadium, including the 2014 and 2015 FA Cup finals.
Team news
It’s likely that Wenger will revert to a back-four on Sunday, but the Frenchman will be keeping his options open.
Cup goalkeeper David Ospina is ruled out with a back injury, meaning Petr Cech will keep his place between the sticks.
Danny Welbeck has trained but will face a late fitness test following a minor toe injury.
Shkodran Mustafi remains on the sidelines, along with “longer term” absentee Lucas Perez.
Bacary Sagna is a doubt to face his former club with a groin strain.
John Stones has been ruled out with a muscular problem but Gabriel Jesus could be involved after returning to training.
TEAM NEWS
Arsenal must face Manchester City on Sunday without injured quintet Shkodran Mustafi, Danny Welbeck, Lucas Perez, David Ospina and Santi Cazorla.
Manager Arsene Wenger could keep the three-man defence he used for Monday's league win at Middlesbrough.
Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus is included in the squad, only 10 weeks after breaking a bone in his foot.
John Stones has failed to recover from the muscle injury that ruled him out of last week's game at Southampton.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
This will be the fourth FA Cup tie between the clubs, and the first since 1971 when Arsenal won in the fifth round en route to lifting the trophy.
The sides drew 2-2 for the third time in six meetings earlier this month, with Manchester City twice relinquishing the lead in a Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium.
Their most recent encounter at Wembley Stadium was a 3-0 win for Arsenal in the 2014 Community Shield.
Arsenal
- Arsenal's only defeat in their last 21 FA Cup matches came against Watford in last season's quarter-final.
- They could equal the club FA Cup record of four consecutive clean sheets, most recently achieved in 2005.
- The Gunners have reached the FA Cup semi-finals for the 29th time, a competition record.
- They have also won the trophy 12 times, a joint-record alongside Manchester United.
- Arsene Wenger's side are unbeaten in their last six games at Wembley, winning five of them and also knocking Wigan out of the FA Cup on penalties in a semi-final three years ago.
- However, Arsenal have lost seven of their last 13 games in all competitions, with two of their five victories coming against non-league Sutton United and Lincoln City.
- Wenger has won the FA Cup six times as a manager, a joint tournament record with George Ramsay of Aston Villa.
- Alexis Sanchez has scored five times in his four appearances at Wembley: three goals for Arsenal, and two for Chile against England.
Manchester City
- Manchester City have progressed from each of their last eight FA Cup semi-finals, most recently in 2013 against Chelsea. Their last defeat at this stage was in 1932 against Arsenal.
- City have won the competition five times, latterly in 2011. They were runners-up for the fifth time in 2013.
- They have alternated between victory and defeat in their last seven appearances at Wembley, beating Liverpool in a penalty shootout last time out in the 2016 League Cup final.
- City have won a club record 11 top-flight away matches this season, as well as three wins out of three on the road against Premier League opposition in the FA Cup.
- Pep Guardiola won his only previous game as a manager at Wembley, when his Barcelona side beat Manchester United 3-1 in the 2011 Champions League final.
- Sergio Aguero has scored 13 goals in 14 FA Cup appearances, with four of those goals coming this season.
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