Arsenal and Manchester City Target Trophy Success While Macclesfield Chases Additional FA Cup Upsets
Arsenal and Manchester City pause their Premier League title fight to keep their quadruple dreams alive this weekend, while Wigan and Salford aim for massive FA Cup surprises.
Aston Villa and Newcastle hope to snap their long trophy droughts in what stands as the standout match of the round.
Macclesfield from the sixth tier stunned everyone by ousting defending champions Crystal Palace in the previous round, creating one of the competitions greatest shocks, and now they target another top-flight victim in Brentford.
AFP Sport examines three key discussion points before the fourth round action:
Arsenal and City Pursue Historic Quadruple
Three years back, City equalled the most remarkable campaign in English football by securing the Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup, just like Manchester Uniteds 1998/99 team.
Yet no team has claimed those three alongside the League Cup.
Arsenal and City will clash for the seasons initial trophy next month, with the groundbreaking quadruple still possible for both.
The Gunners lead Pep Guardiolas side by four points in the Premier League standings, though City enjoy home soil in their April encounter.
Each advanced straight to the Champions League last 16.
It would shock many if they miss out on the fifth round draw on Monday.
The Gunners welcome Wigan, the 2013 FA Cup victors now battling relegation in League One.
Salford from the fourth tier, backed by Manchester United icons David Beckham and Gary Neville, travel to the Etihad keen to dodge another heavy defeat after last seasons 8-0 loss to City.
Will Villa Break Their Trophy Absence?
Villa trail the Premier League leaders closely yet title hopes fade, so Unai Emerys squad seeks to halt a 30-year major trophy famine.
Their previous FA Cup triumph came in 1957, shortly after Newcastles last win two years earlier.
Newcastle recently ended a 70-year wait for home silverware via last seasons League Cup victory.
Placed 10th in the Premier League, Eddie Howes team might rely on FA Cup success to rescue a subpar year.
That said, Newcastle falter away from home this term and could miss key skipper Bruno Guimaraes through a hamstring issue.
Macclesfield Hunts Fresh Miracle
The vast 117-position gulf between National League Norths Macclesfield and Palace marked the largest ever bridged by a lower-tier side in FA Cup annals.
They might surpass that mark on Monday as seventh-placed Brentford arrives at Moss Rose.
We entered the Palace match believing a miracle was needed, yet the players shone and earned a rightful victory, noted Macclesfield manager John Rooney, sibling of ex-England and Manchester United skipper Wayne Rooney.
Expect greater scrutiny now with upset hopes high, but that reflects the efforts of the club, players, staff, and all involved in that triumph.
Fixtures
Friday (all times GMT)
Hull v Chelsea, Wrexham v Ipswich (both 1945)
Saturday
Burton v West Ham (1215), Burnley v Mansfield, Norwich v West Brom, Manchester City v Salford, Southampton v Leicester, Port Vale v Bristol City (all 1500), Aston Villa v Newcastle (1745), Liverpool v Brighton (2000)
Sunday
Birmingham v Leeds (1200), Grimsby v Wolves (1330), Stoke v Fulham, Oxford v Sunderland (1400), Arsenal v Wigan (1630)
Monday
Macclesfield v Brentford (1930)
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