There will be four teams remaining in the chase for the 2017 FA Cup come Monday night.
Not to bury the lede regarding Lincoln City’s remarkable run to the quarters -- Danny Cowley’s Imps are the first non-league side to make it this far in 113 years -- but the big boys have come to play.
[ MORE: JPW’s Premier League picks ]
Here are the contestants:
Middlesbrough vs. Manchester City -- 7:15 a.m. EDT Saturday
Boro: lost the 1997 final
Man City: five titles, last in 2011; Lost 2013 final
Pep Guardiola’s City is still very much alive for both the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League, while still barely hanging out on the outskirts of a Premier League title fight. Assuming Guardiola wants to put some hardware in the cabinet, he’ll be raring to beat Middlesbrough. Maybe Alvaro Negredo can play spoiler against his former club, but Boro hasn’t been able to buy goals. City should be heavy favorites, even on the road.
Arsenal vs. Lincoln City -- 12:30 p.m. EDT Saturday
Arsenal: 12 titles, won in 2015
Lincoln City: first quarterfinal
Lincoln is the first non-league side to advance this far in the FA Cup since 1914. The Imps won’t be intimidated but they also won’t be able to hide at the Emirates Stadium. If Arsenal can’t perform giving their beatdown against Bayern Munich, then they might as well hang ‘em up for 2017. Gunners to cruise.
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Millwall -- 10 a.m. EDT Sunday
Spurs: Eight titles, last in 1987; Lost 1991 final
Millwall: Lost the 2004 final
Longtime Millwall striker Neil Harris is now thriving as manager, with the Lions unbeaten in 17-straight matches. That said, most of those are in League One. Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is another manager anxious to put some hardware in his case. Expect the favorites to win again.
Chelsea vs. Manchester United -- 3:45 p.m. EDT Monday
Chelsea: Seven titles, won in 2012
Manchester United: Reigning champs, 12 titles
A massive match-up at Stamford Bridge sees Jose Mourinho back at his old stamping grounds to battle with the Blues. Both sides are pretty good form, with Chelsea boss Antonio Conte having a better run with his new club. This one could go in either direction, though the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic poses a problem for both sides; Man Utd has to find someone to take his place, but Chelsea has little idea how Mourinho will operate his side without the ever-present and ageless striker.
