FA Cup 2015: Updated Results, Predictions for Sunday Fixtures
Every now and then, English football produces a day of spectacularly unpredictable action which reinforces the belief it is the most entertaining version of the sport in the world.
And Saturday was one of those days as the magic of the FA Cup shone bright—as Manchester City and Chelsea crashed out of the competition to lower league opposition.
Premier League champions City collapsed at the Etihad to Championship side Middlesbrough, losing 2-0.
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And Jose Mourinho's league leaders suffered a dramatic shock at Stamford Bridge as his high-flying side were destroyed 4-2 by League One hopefuls, Bradford City.
Manchester United were also held away to lowly Cambridge United 0-0 on Friday, forcing a replay at Old Trafford, with Liverpool also sharing the spoils with Bolton Wanderers as their fixture ended goalless.
Here, we review the full results from the round so far, as well as provide predictions for Sunday's ties:
| Friday, Jan. 23 | Cambridge United | 0-0 | Manchester United |
| Saturday, Jan. 24 | Blackburn Rovers | 3-1 | Swansea City |
| Saturday, Jan. 24 | Southampton | 2-3 | Crystal Palace |
| Saturday, Jan. 24 | Chelsea | 2-4 | Bradford City |
| Saturday, Jan. 24 | Derby County | 2-0 | Chesterfield |
| Saturday, Jan. 24 | Preston North End | 1-1 | Sheffield United |
| Saturday, Jan. 24 | Birmingham City | 1-2 | West Bromwich Albion |
| Saturday, Jan. 24 | Cardiff City | 1-2 | Reading |
| Saturday, Jan. 24 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1-2 | Leicester City |
| Saturday, Jan. 24 | Manchester City | 0-2 | Middlesbrough |
| Saturday, Jan. 24 | Sunderland | 0-0 | Fulham |
| Saturday, Jan. 24 | Liverpool | 0-0 | Bolton Wanderers |
| Sunday, Jan. 25 | 2 p.m. GMT/9 a.m. ET | Bristol City v West Ham | 1-3 |
| Sunday, Jan. 25 | 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET | Aston Villa v Bournemouth | 1-2 |
| Sunday, Jan. 25 | 4 p.m. GMT/11 a.m. ET | Brighton and Hove Albion v Arsenal | 1-3 |
| Monday, Jan. 26 | 8 p.m. GMT/8 p.m. ET | Rochdale v Stoke City | 1-3 |
Huge Opportunity for Arsenal to Retain the Cup
Last season saw Arsenal's hunger for a trophy quelled after the Gunners finally captured a piece of silverware in the form of the FA Cup.
But with Chelsea and Manchester City both chasing historic trebles this term—something only achieved by Manchester United in 1999—it seemed that Arsene Wenger's team would struggle to hold onto their title.
But after a crazy Saturday of football, England's two top sides have been dumped out of the competition and things are looking bright for the north London cup holders.
Arsenal must now travel to struggling Championship side Brighton and they will feel they have the measure of the south coast club.
However, the magic of the cup has already manifested itself this season and Brighton will feel they can join Middlesbrough and Bradford in grabbing some of the biggest scalps in the game.
The Gunners will look towards their Chilean superstar Alexis Sanchez for the firepower they need, with the former Barcelona man taking to English football like a duck to water.
The 26-year-old has not disappointed at all with his magnificent contributions to the Arsenal cause, scoring 12 times in his 21 Premier League matches this term, per WhoScored.com.
Sanchez has ripped defences apart with his trickery and with Olivier Giroud now back from injury—Arsenal look potent.
Add to this Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil, two players who have been out of the squad for significant periods, and this Gunners team starts to look like world beaters.
Mike Calvin of BT Sport highlighted Walcott and his return and said the England international must impose himself in the coming weeks after losing his allure and relevance:
"Football changes with bewildering speed and unusual subtlety. Walcott has lost his USP, since he is no longer the only Arsenal player blessed with frightening pace. He needs to prove his sharpness in front of goal has not been dulled by inactivity.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has flourished in his absence, though, strangely, it appears he has yet to fully earn the trust of Arsene Wenger. Alexis Sanchez, surely the signing of the season, offers the perfect example of industry, intricacy and incision.
Competition for places is intense, with the exhilarating sequence of performances by Santi Cazorla causing Mesut Ozil to rue his three-month absence with another knee ligament injury. Like Walcott, he needs to use the Brighton tie to re-impose his authority.
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And Calvin's conclusions are correct, with Arsenal's strength in the attacking areas being an issue for both Walcott and Ozil.
Walcott now needs a run of games to get himself sharper and fitter, and the tie against Brighton has arrived at the perfect time for him.
Wenger's team are starting to kick into gear now and despite the cacophony of giant-killing acts on Saturday, it is highly unlikely this current incarnation of Brighton can live with Arsenal.
The Gunners are finding their feet and their form—and appear set to get to the latter stages of the FA Cup once again.
West Ham to Make a Big Splash in the Cup?
One of the surprise packages in the English game this year has been West Ham United, with Sam Allardyce taking his more direct tactics and turning his team into a dangerous prospect.
The Hammers are riding high in the Premier League and sit just four points off the Champions League qualification positions, per Sky Sports.
This fact alone is a stellar achievement by Big Sam and company, proving that the unfashionable elements of the English game can still be wholly effective.
The cup now offers Allardyce a weekend off from league activities and if West Ham truly want to win a trophy, the FA Cup offers them a realistic chance of glory.
But Bristol City will offer West Ham a real threat of elimination with the south-west club riding high in League One—odds on to make their way to promotion.
However, one of the Hammers' strengths this season has been their defence and it is likely they will travel to Bristol confident of achieving at least a clean sheet and a draw.
But with Stewart Downing and Andy Carroll both in fine form, Allardyce will be looking to get the job done at the first attempt and put Steve Cotterill's team to the sword.
This is a game that West Ham should win but as we have seen on Saturday, there is no such thing as a sure bet in the FA Cup.
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