09/03/2026

SPORTS MONDAY | MAR 9, 2026

30

M ANCHESTER CITY shrugged off 10 changes to their starting line-up to crush Newcastle 3-1 and reach the FA Cup quarterfinals yesterday as Chelsea bat tled past 10-man Wrexham. Earlier, Premier League leaders Arsenal stayed on track for a historic quadruple by seeing off a feisty challenge from third-tier Mansfield to win their fifth round tie 2-1. Pep Guardiola’s City, who like Arsenal are still chasing glory on four fronts, were almost entirely changed from the side that drew 2-2 with Nottingham Forest in the Premier League in mid week, with only Matheus Nunes keeping his place. Eddie Howe made a relatively modest four changes to his Newcastle team, fresh from their late win against Manchester United, with match-winner

Proud Pep, relieved Liam Man City hand Newcastle brutal FA Cup lesson as Chelsea survive scare

ted his side had ridden their luck. “That’s the reason why the FA Cup is what it is,” he said. “I thought Wrexham were magnificent – mag nificent in their energy, how brave they were and how they played. “We had to be at a high, high level. We were pushed all the way by a very good team.” Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson, who has master minded three straight promotions for his side, said they could take “a lot of heart” from the perform ance. “We showed a lot of good aspects to our play and played some great football,” he told the BBC . “We weren’t just coming here to stop Chelsea – we believe we can play.” – AFP

City’s Savinho (centre) under pressure from Newcastle defenders during yesterday’s FA Cup fifth-round clash at St. James’ Park. – REUTERSPIC

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Draw Date: 08/03/26 (Sun)

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Arsenal), and this competition has been going for a while, so it tells you how difficult that is.” Arteta stressed there is “plenty more to come” from the pair, as well as Jaden Dixon, 18, after his debut off the bench, and believes Salmon will learn from the under hit pass in the build-up to Evans’ equaliser. “I have to watch it back, but I could sense that he was responsible,” the Spaniard said. “And it is good in a way but don’t lose perspective because everybody that has been in that room, that has been at this level, has made an error, a mistake, or a situation leading to a goal. “But that’s not important. The important thing is the way he played and some of the things that he’s done on the pitch. I think that’s much more important than the other part.” Quadruple-chasing Arsenal are into the FA Cup quarter-final draw for the first time since Arteta oversaw the first, and so far only, trophy of his reign in 2020. “It was a great occasion,” he added. “That game exemplifies the history of the FA Cup, the difficulty of that and the beauty of that. They made it really hard, so big congratulations to Nigel (Clough) and the team for the way they played.” – The Independent lose it was a bad decision. “This is the best performance we have played in this stadium since my decade here. That is consistency and that is why I am proud.” Chelsea are also into the last eight after a 4-2 win but only after a mighty scare against second-tier Wrexham, who twice took the lead at the Racecourse Ground. Hollywood-owned Wrexham, watched by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, went ahead through Sam Smith but the visi tors drew level courtesy of an own goal shortly before half-time. In a breathless second period, Callum Doyle put the Welsh team back ahead again in the 78th minute, only for Josh Acheampong to equalise four minutes later. The game changed complexion when Wrexham midfielder George Dobson was sent off in stoppage time and Chelsea winger Alejandro Garnacho volleyed home in the first period of extra time before substitute Joao Pedro’s late strike added gloss to the scoreline. Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior, who made nine changes with Thursday’s (4am) match against Paris Saint-Germain in mind, admit

MIKEL ARTETA praised Max Dowman and Marli Salmon after the 16-year-olds helped Arsenal reach the FA Cup quarterfinals by edging past gutsy League One outfit Mansfield. The Premier League leaders were made to sweat on Saturday at a sold-out One Call Stadium, where half-time introduction Will Evans struck as the spirited Stags cancelled out Noni Madueke’s opener. Arteta turned to his star-studded bench to swing the tie back in their favour and substitute Eberechi Eze’s lasered effort secured a 2-1 win on a day when teenagers Dowman and Salmon were among nine Arsenal changes. The former shone particularly brightly and became the Gunners’ youngest ever FA Cup player at the age of 16 years 66 days as he made his first appearance since November following an ankle issue. “Very proud of him, very proud as well of Marli,” Arteta said. “Obviously two 16-year olds starting in the FA Cup. That tells us a lot about them, their personality and the quality that they have. Max, I think, was exceptional. “I congratulated them. I think Max is the youngest ever in the competition (for Will Osula given a rare start. The home side began strongly at St. James’ Park and took a deserved lead when Harvey Barnes finished smartly after being found by Sandro Tonali. City were level in the 39th minute in bizarre fashion when Jeremy Doku’s danger ous ball behind the defence ran all the way to Savinho. The Brazilian stood still and appeared to let the ball bounce off his leg into the net. Soon after the restart City completed the turnaround when Omar Marmoush smashed the ball into the roof of the goal from close range. The Egyptian forward then thundered home his second in the 65th minute to put his team in total control. Guardiola, whose team travel to face Real Madrid in the Champions League on Thursday (4am Malaysian time), turned to a bench packed with international talent in the second half to refresh his side, who are seek ing to reach their fourth straight FA Cup final. “In Leverkusen, it was a strong squad too (a 2-0 defeat for a much-changed side), but we won today, so it was fine,” Guardiola told the BBC . “It was a good decision and when I

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