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FA CUP WINNER AND HERO, AUBAMEYANG HAILED AS ‘GOAT’

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Expectedly, it was celebration galore at the camp of  FA Cup winning Arsenal on Saturday night.

Cup winner and skipper, Pierre-Emerick Aubamenyang once again stepped up the fore for Mikel Arteta’s men with a match-winning brace, and the talisman was soon christened the club’s Greatest Of All Time (GOAT) by his team-mates. 

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Aubamenyang is Arsenal’s GOAT!

Nicolas Pepe will avoid a post-party hangover, however, after being caught on camera enjoying a Fanta while the rest of the Gunners stars basked in their Wembley success.

The squad will unsurprisingly enjoy the victory for many hours to come after securing Arsenal’s 14th FA Cup triumph.

Their trophy lift was arguably an underwhelming affair without the presence of supporters inside the national stadium, but each and every player appeared determined to mark the moment in a series of hilarious social media posts.

Alexandre Lacazette was even filmed celebrating with his shirt only partly on, but didn’t appear to mind as those around him continued to bounce around and sing on their journey.  

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But it was his strike partner Aubameyang who appeared the heart and soul of the jamboree. 

The 31-year-old frontman, whose future at the club remains unclear, handed fans a glimpse at how their idols were celebrating on Instagram.

A series of lengthy posts to his story showed boisterous players packed into the aisle of their coach while others cracked open bottles of champagne around them.

After the game, boss Arteta once again called on his star striker to remain at the club, hoping that the FA Cup win would tempt him to stay to try and win more silverware. 

Arteta seemed confident, however, Aubameyang remained silent on the matter after the game, instead preferring to enjoy the victorious moment with his team-mates. 

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Former Gunner Ian Wright was hopeful on the BBC that Aubameyang would be staying after Arteta’s assertions, while over on BT Sport, Rio Ferdinand thought the opposite, saying: ‘I think he’s gone.’ 

The raucous stars belted out songs and danced the night away after leaving Wembley with the coveted FA Cup trophy safely in tow.

The actual piece of silverware, Arteta’s first at the helm of the club, was later spotted on the team bus, wisely with a seat-belt on, amid the boisterous celebrations.

And the tight bond between the head coach and his players was shown once again shortly after the cup had been hoisted into the air.

Arteta, who is no stranger to success after a three-year spell as Pep Guardiola’s right-hand man at Manchester City, was filmed heading down the tunnel and into the dressing room while clutching the trophy. 

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His arrival was greeted with a shower of champagne and the then-soaked Arteta joyously let loose by hopping around in the centre of the room.

The manager later tweeted: ‘Thank you everyone for being so supportive. We knew that there were expectations and this trophy is for you. There is still a long way to go of improving on many things, but I’m very proud of the fantastic players and the staff. Again, thank you so much for the support and belief.’

Emiliano Martinez, who had an emotional day, bursting into tears during his post-match interview, was pictured hugging the trophy tightly on the journey home.

The goalkeeper has been at the club for 10 years, but has only recently been given the nod for a starting position.  

However, Chelsea fans were fuming as they believe he had handled the ball outside the penalty area in the second half. It appeared to be a very close call, and he was given the benefit of the doubt by the referees. 

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Arsenal players will have a few weeks off now to prepare for the new season, and it seems they are already making the most of not having to train every day, as Lucas Torreira and Martinez were spotted grabbing a late-night McDonalds takeaway.

Despite the all-London showdown taking place behind closed doors, it transpired to be one certain to live long in the memory.

Christian Pulisic had opened the scoring after just five minutes with a clever dink, but Aubameyang once again underlined his importance to Arsenal with two goals. 

His first came from the penalty spot after Cesar Azpilicueta’s foul inside the box, and the effort that handed Arteta’s side the silverware was breathtaking.

Pepe picked out his team-mate on the left-hand side of the box, and Aubameyang duly chipped over Willy Caballero and into the far corner.  

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Despite the sublime goals, VAR came under fire again amidst Mateo Kovacic’s red card drama. Frank Lampard was extremely unhappy with the soft second yellow card, however it could not be checked as VAR is only used in straight red card incidents.

‘What kind of rule is that? There’s always been this one that you couldn’t challenge two yellows,’ the Chelsea boss fumed in an interview with beIN Sports. ‘Someone’s sitting there really stubbornly sticking to their guns on that one.’ 

Chelsea’s day went from bad to worse, as injuries plagued the team as well. Cesar Azpilicueta went off in tears, Christian Pulisic had to be carried down the tunnel, and Pedro departed on oxygen after injuring his shoulder.

It will make Chelsea’s upcoming Champions League fixture against Bayern Munich all the more hard, as the Blues try to brush off their bitter defeat.  

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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FA Cup

Eight-minute VAR check at Bournemouth is new English record

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 FA Cup - Fifth Round - AFC Bournemouth v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, Britain - March 1, 2025 A big screen displays a VAR review message Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra 

The first weekend of semi-automated offside decisions in English soccer descended into confusion on Saturday as Bournemouth had a goal ruled out after a record eight-minute VAR check.

Bournemouth, who eventually beat Premier League rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers on penalties in the FA Cup fifth round after a 1-1 draw, thought they had doubled their lead when defender Milos Kerkez scored in the 35th-minute goal.

However, new technology could not be used because the six-yard area was too crowded and VAR officials had to revert to manually drawing lines before disallowing the goal.

Fellow defender Dean Huijsen was adjudged to have been in an offside position as Kerkez’s effort brushed his shoulder before going in to the net.

The VAR check was further complicated as VAR officials Timothy Wood and Darren England also had to also examine the possibility of hand balls prior to the tight offside call.

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Both sets of fans voiced their disapproval at the interminable wait, chanting “it’s not football any more” and “this is embarrassing”.

Referee Sam Barrott, who eventually announced the decision to the crowd via a microphone, had to explain to the respective managers and players what was happening during the delay.

-Reuters

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FA Cup giant-killers Plymouth draw Man City in fifth round

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FA Cup giant-killers Plymouth Argyle drew Premier League champions Manchester City on Monday as the second-tier side’s fifth-round reward for a shock defeat of Liverpool at the weekend.

Holders Manchester United will host Fulham at Old Trafford in one of at least three all-Premier League clashes, with League Cup finalists Newcastle United at home to top-tier rivals Brighton & Hove Albion.

Bournemouth will host Wolverhampton Wanderers in another all-top-flight encounter.

Struggling Plymouth caused one of the great upsets of the FA Cup on Sunday when they beat a second-string Liverpool 1-0, ending the Premier League leaders’ hopes of a quartet of trophies this season.

The Pilgrims are bottom of the Championship but City, who reached the fifth round with a 2-1 win at third-tier Leyton Orient on Saturday after going behind early on, have been misfiring this season.

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There will be a fourth all-Premier League clash if Nottingham Forest avoid trouble at League One (third tier) Exeter City on Tuesday, with Ipswich Town awaiting the winners.

Aston Villa, who ended Tottenham Hotspur’s hopes on Sunday, host second tier Cardiff City.

The fifth round matches will be played on the weekend of March 1 and 2.

Last 16 draw:

  • Preston North End v Burnley
  • Aston Villa v Cardiff City
  • Doncaster Rovers or Crystal Palace v Millwall
  • Manchester United v Fulham
  • Newcastle United v Brighton & Hove Albion
  • Bournemouth v Wolverhampton Wanderers
  • Manchester City v Plymouth Argyle

-Reuters

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Liverpool suffer shock FA Cup defeat to Plymouth

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FA Cup - Fourth Round - Plymouth Argyle v Liverpool - Home Park, Plymouth, Britain - February 9, 2025 Plymouth Argyle's Ryan Hardie celebrates scoring their first goal with Callum Wright and Adam Randell REUTERS/David Klein 

A much-changed Liverpool were dumped out of the FA Cup by struggling second-tier side Plymouth Argyle, who pulled off a stunning 1-0 fourth-round win at Home Park on Sunday that put an end to the visitors’ hopes of a quadruple.

The hosts took the lead in the 53rd minute after they were awarded a penalty for a handball by midfielder Harvey Elliott and Ryan Hardie stepped up to send Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher the wrong way.

Premier League leaders Liverpool were bereft of ideas and had just one shot on target in the opening half, with Plymouth keeper Conor Hazard making a diving save in the 36th minute to keep out James McConnell’s long-range shot.

Ahead of the Merseyside derby against Everton on Wednesday, Liverpool made wholesale changes with Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker and Alexis Mac Allister among the big-names rested and left at home.

Liverpool, who were also forced into an early change when defender Joe Gomez went down injured, failed to create many chances in a scrappy encounter as Plymouth, who sit bottom of the second-tier Championship, gradually grew in confidence.

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Arne Slot’s side switched gears after going down but Hazard proved to be the hero for Plymouth as the Northern Irishman brilliantly kept out Diogo Jota’s volley in added time, as well as a header from Darwin Nunez.

With Liverpool top of the Premier League, having strolled into the Champions League’s last 16 and reached the League Cup final, some fans and pundits had begun to speculate about a potential quadruple.

Plymouth’s remarkable victory, however, brought a shuddering halt to talk of clean sweep of silverware for Slot’s side, who had only lost three games all season, prior to Sunday.

Meanwhile, there was no surprise in the other FA Cup fourth-round tie with Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers beating second-tier Championship side Blackburn Rovers 2-0 at Ewood Park.

There was little to separate the two teams in the opening minutes before Wolves hit Blackburn with two rapid-fire goals through midfielder Joao Gomes in the 33rd minute and seconds later via forward Matheus Cunha.

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Blackburn defender Dominic Hyam had the ball in the back of the net in the 19th minute, but his celebrations were cut short when the linesman’s flag went up for offside.

-Reuters

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