MAN CITY ON HIGH AFTER FA-CUP SUCCESS...

Roberto Mancini believes Manchester City's FA Cup triumph could be the launchpad for an assault on next season's Premier League.

http://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer

City ended their 35-year trophy drought on Saturday afterdowning Stoke 1-0 at Wembley to clinch a major trophy for the first time since 1976.

The victory was the first tangible return City's owners have been able to enjoy since their 2008 takeover and the subsequent lavish spending on players which has topped £300 million to date.

But while City's players and fans celebrated, Mancini was already looking to future challenges, with next season's Premier League at the top of the list.

"We want to try for the title next year," Mancini said.

"I think this year it was important to start to win. In one week we qualified for the Champions League which was our first target. And we won the FA Cup.

"I think we improved a lot this season, like a team. But I think we need to improve more. We need another step. But it was important that we start to win, because once you start to win, it gets easier."

Mancini believes that City might even have challenged for the title this season had it not been for a fixture congestion which saw them fall away towards the end of the season.

"For two months, we were close to the top. We stayed on the top for four or five weeks. We were very close with Chelsea, United and Arsenal.

FA CUP RESULTS from the past week-end...

Some of the Top teams had a few scares in this past week-ends fixtures. Here are the final results:
www.supersport

The FA Cup | RESULTS

30 January   Fulham 4 - 0 Tottenham D Murphy (pen 10) D Murphy (pen 13) B Hangeland (22) M Dembele (45)   Craven Cottage Attendance (21829) Teams	30 January   Notts County 1 - 1 Man City N Bishop (58) E Dzeko (79) Meadow Lane Attendance (16587) Teams

Soccer: Arsenal advances to 4th round in FA Cup...

Arsenal fans had a few scares over the past few weeks, but Wednesday night they made sure of staying in the FA Cup with a good win over a spirited Leeds United outfit. They final score was 3-1.

Arsenal scored two goals through Nasri and Sagna in the first half, while Johnson kept Leeds in the game with a 36th minute goal, but that was the last time they looked like scoring.

I would love to hear from someone who watched the entire game last night - let us know if you think Arsenal's performance was right up there? Do you think there is still room for improvement?

19 January
Leeds	1 - 3	Arsenal
B Johnson (36) S Nasri (4) B Sagna (34) R van Persie (75)
Elland Road		Attendance (38232)

Arsenal vs Leeds - FA Cup Replay, Wednesday 19 January 2011

Arsenal fans and their coach, Arsene Wenger, are hoping their team can recover from recent back to back shocks and overcome Leeds United in this weeks upcoming FA Cup third round replay.

Only a late penalty from Cesc Fabregas denied Leeds a shock win in the first meeting of the two clubs at the Emirates Stadium and salvage Arsenal's hopes of advancing in the FA Cup competition.

After that disappointing display Arsenal followed it up by an even more disappointing performance in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final against Ipswich, when the struggling 2nd-league team clinched a single goal victory.

Arsenal will head to Yorkshire with some added confidence, following the comfortable 3-0 victory over West Ham United. Arsene Wenger:

"Our success depends on the way the whole squad can focus on the different competitions," he told Arsenal TV online.


"I believe we have the quality to qualify no matter what I do on Wednesday. It's just how much we are able to focus on the competition.
"The timing is not the best but it is down to us because we could have beaten Leeds at home. We didn't manage to do that but now there's no reason why we should give up.
"I will prepare for this game to win it then we will see. It is important we go there with a positive attitude."

Any Arsenal Fans out there that have comments, please post them? What do you think will be the final score tomorrow night between Arsenal vs Leeds?