FA Cup: Manchester City thrash Aston Villa, Arsenal edge past Burnley,Liverpool held by West Ham
Arsenal and Manchester City secured passage into the fifth round of the FA Cup after wins over Burnley and Aston Villa respectively. Bournemouth and Crystal Palace were the other Premier league teams to progress but West Brom were held to a draw at home by Peterborough United.
Tottenham Hotspur also booked their place in the next round in the early kick off against Colchester United after putting four past the League one side.
Arsenal 2-1 Burnley
FA Cup holders Arsenal advanced to the fifth round of the competition after a 2-1 win against Championship side Burnley. Mohamed Elneny made his debut for Arsenal with Francis Coquelin also starting and Tomas Rosicky returned to the side for the first time this season, coming on as a substitute late in the game.
Right-back Calum Chambers opened the scoring with a sublime right foot finish from inside the box after being put through by Alexis Sanchez. Burnley hit back 10 minutes later through a Sam Vokes header in the 30th minute, converting from Tendayi Darikwa’s cross to make it 1-1.
But Arsenal’s talisman Sanchez had the last say with a fine finish at the end of a sweeping counter-attack. There were a few nervous moments towards the end but Arsene Wenger’s men saw it through to advance.
Aston Villa 0-4 Manchester City
Manchester City swatted aside Aston Villa with a 4-0 victory over last year’s finalists. Kelechi Iheanacho netted his first senior hat-trick for City while Raheem Sterling added a fourth.
Iheanacho opened the scoring within four minutes of the first half, finishing from close range. His next goal came from the penalty spot in the 24th minute after Sterling was felled in the box. He completed his hat-trick in the second half as City scored two quick-fire goals in the 74th and 76th minute, ending Remi Garde’s misery.
Colchester 1-4 Tottenham Hotspur
In the early kickoff, Tottenham Hotspur ran out comfortable 4-1 winners away to Colchester United. Two goals from Nacer Chadli and one each from Eric Dier and Tom Carroll made it a stroll in the park for the Spurs.
Chadli gave them the lead after a right-footed shot which nestled into the bottom right corner. Dier scored the second from outside the box in the 64th minute before Chadli got his brace in the 78th minute. Caroll completed the rout in the 82nd minute while a Ben Davies own goal gave Colchester some consolation.
Liverpool 0-0 West Ham
Liverpool had a frustrating evening as they were held to goalless draw at Anfield. The Reds created several chances but only few were clear cut. In the second half West Ham goalkeeper Darren Randolp made a brilliant triple save to keep the scoreline goalless.
Now they face the tough task of playing the Hammers at Boelyn Ground in the replay.