Man City crash out of Europe ... they can now concentrate on the FA Cup!

Arsenal and Manchester City are now starting their build up to the FA Cup semi final on the weekend of the 22/23 April in what will be stop 16 on The Road to Wembley from Scotland. This midweek City have been in Champions League action while the Gunners have been preparing to meet West Bromwich Albion at the weekend.

Manchester City have lofty ambitions this season. This time yesterday they were eyeing a treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup. This morning they are eyeing a double as they surprisingly crashed out of the Champions League against the elegant AS Monaco outfit. City led 5-3 from the first leg in Manchester and hence were defending a two goal lead. Their advantage did not last long as Les Rouges et Blancs scored twice in the first half hour. The architect of the City downfall was an 18 year old French forward Kylian Mbappe who tore the City defence to pieces. We will be hearing a lot more about this lad in the future.

Happy Mbappe! Young Monaco forward gives Man City boss Guardiola food for thought

City got their act together in the second half and their own wonder boy, 21 year old German Leroy Sane, scored a good goal to put them in the driving seat. A third Monaco goal 13 minutes from time put the Sky Blues out of Europe on the away goals rule.

Meanwhile in north London Arsene Wenger gave his weekly press conference this morning. The beleaguered Professor skilfully batted away questions concerning his own future in a style that Brian Lara would have been proud of and instead concentrated on the immediate future of Arsenal. He noted that there is still ‘all to play for’ in the Premier League and that despite the negative press coverage the Gunners have now reached the last 4 of the FA Cup. Nice one Prof and I am with you. How can anyone, especially Arsenal fans of all people, criticise the great man?

Bothered? Me? Under fire Wenger fronts up at the press conference

Will the Gunners be firing on Saturday in West Bromwich or will it be a black day for Arsene Wenger in the Black Country? Will the blue moon be rising again when City play host to Liverpool on Sunday? Will I get my ticket for the semi final sorted? Will I ever find out if Paul Dickov was the last Scot to play for Manchester City. Come back here early next week to find out … and … keep reading