Sutton vs. Arsenal is not a thing anyone expected to happen at the start of the FA Cup, but after beating Cheltenham, Leeds United and Wimbledon, Sutton forced mighty Arsenal to come face them at Gander Green Lane. And man, they put on a show.
You just knew this wouldn't be an ordinary match when a man clad in just his undies and a giraffe hat ran onto the pitch.
Before and after from the Sutton United giraffe pitch invader.
The remarkable progress of non-league sides Lincoln City and Sutton United in the FA Cup will continue after Lincoln City’s shocking defeat of Burnley on Saturday. With Sutton United due to play Arsenal on Monday, we’ll soon see if two non-league sides can qualify for the quarterfinals for the first time ever.
Here are five of the most interesting characters from the sides.
Arsene Wenger has confirmed that he will not walk out on Arsenal this season, but his future at the club remains in the balance with his contract set to expire in the summer. The BBC has reported that the 67-year-old and the club will come to a mutual agreement in the summer, but Wenger has made it clear that regardless of what happens, he will still be coaching next year.
David Luiz is no stranger to being absolutely hilarious. He used to combine his nuance for comedy both on and off the pitch, but now that’s he’s strictly business in defense for Chelsea, we’ve been limited to moments like this one here.
Ouch! @DavidLuiz_4 v Chelsea TV... pic.twitter.com/nzujkatTtN
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 17, 2017
Burnley’s Turf Moor was witness to one of the most spectacular achievements in the 146-year history of the FA Cup — Lincoln City, a non-league side in England’s fifth division, have advanced to the FA Cup quarterfinals, an achievement that hasn’t been accomplished since 1914.
The top four home records in the Premier League: Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal, Burnley. Yes, you read that correctly. Burnley has the fourth best home record in the league and trails Arsenal for third only on goal difference. This is the same Burnley that was ranked as the most likely team to be relegated this season by the English sports books at 11/10 odds. Instead, they now sit comfortably above the drop zone in 12th place.
Adam Haworth and his superdad were invited to the Barnfield Training Center, home of Burnley FC, after the video of Adam’s dad saving his son from an errant shot went viral last Sunday.
"I'm not a hero, I was just being a dad." - Adam Haworth who saved his son from getting hit. pic.twitter.com/IPuYXjtXoG
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 17, 2017
Apart from eventually winning promotion back to the Premier League, the greatest memory of Newcastle United's 2016-17 season will be selling Moussa Sissoko to Tottenham for £30 million. After acquiring him from Toulouse for next to nothing, Sissoko briefly impressed before playing a massive role in Newcastle’s relegation last season. His lone goal of the campaign didn’t arrive until April, a return of one from 37 matches.
Mark Clattenburg, England's most famous referee, is leaving England to become the head of refereeing for the Saudi Arabian FA, where he will replace his countryman Howard Webb.
Clattenburg will be remembered for being a pretty good referee, England's go-to man for big matches and also UEFA's go-to man, possibly because no English teams seem to play in big European matches anymore (ha ha! I jest). Mostly, though, Clattenburg will be remembered for doing a weird tongue thing while an Atletico Madrid player was writhing on the ground in the 2016 Champions League final.