FA Cup draw separates big guns

Liverpool and Arsenal on opposite sides of the draw

Liverpool and Arsenal could meet in FA Cup final. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images
Liverpool and Arsenal could meet in FA Cup final. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images

Holders Arsenal will face either Bradford or Reading in the FA Cup semi-finals having won their sixth-round tie at Manchester United earlier on Monday evening.

The other semi-final sees Aston Villa take on the winner of Blackburn and Liverpool’s replay after the pair drew 0-0 at Anfield on Sunday.

Arsenal's Danny Welbeck scored on his return to Old Trafford to seal a 2-1 victory for the 2014 FA Cup winners after Wayne Rooney had cancelled out Nacho Monreal's opener. That has set up a clash with League One Bradford, who knocked the Gunners out of the Capital One Cup in 2012, or Steve Clarke's Reading.

Villa secured their place in the semi-finals for the first time since 2010 by seeing off local rivals West Brom 2-0 in a fiery affair on Saturday and Tim Sherwood's side will now be waiting to see whether Liverpool or Blackburn are their Wembley opponents for a place in this season's final.

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The semi-final ties will be played across the weekend of April 18th and 19th, meaning Arsenal’s Premier League game against Sunderland will be rearranged, as will Villa’s home game against QPR which is currently scheduled for Monday April 20th.