News and Views
Reading Or Bradford To Play Arsenal
09 March 2015
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Either Reading or Bradford City will face Arsenal in the semi finals of the FA Cup, after the cup draw was made this evening. The Gunners were 2-1 winners over Manchester United at Old Trafford in their quarter final game tonight. Current FA Cup holders Arsenal have also overcome Hull, Brighton and Middlesbrough before defeating United to book their Wembley appearance. Given Arsenal's form, their wealth of the world's best players and Reading's record against them, the draw is the toughest possible.
The Royals will have to wait until next Monday night to see if they will be joining Arsenal and making only their second ever semi-final appearance in the competition. Bradford City travel to the Madejski Stadium for Monday's replay after both sides failed to score in the first attempt at Valley Parade on Saturday. Bradford were favourites on Saturday and Reading will have to rediscover how to score goals at home to stand any chance of making it to their first semi final in 88 years.
Meanwhile tickets went on general sale today for the replay with Bradford City. Season ticket holders have until Wednesday to claim their reserved seats, with all other seats immediately available to anyone with no royalty point requirements. The available seats have already mostly sold out in the East and West stands with only a very limited number of non-single seats left. There is still some availability in the family corner of the North Stand, but this looks set to also sell out on Tuesday. Limited additional tickets might become available after the 5pm cut off on Wednesday if some season ticket holders don't take up their allocated seats. With the reduced ticket prices, and the huge interest in the game, a capacity crowd should be guaranteed.
The other semi-final will see Aston Villa play either Liverpool or Blackburn. The two semi finals will both be played at Wembley Stadium on the 18th and 19th of April.
Arsenal's Route to the Semi-Finals:
- Round 3: Arsenal 2 Hull City 0
- Round 4: Brighton 2 Arsenal 3
- Round 5: Arsenal 2 Middlesbrough 0
- Quarter Final: Manchester United 1 Arsenal 2
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