Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has now called for the Football Association to pull a U-turn over its controversial decision that is set to come into effect for the 2024/25 season.
The 2023/24 campaign is still not over but Parlour is already looking well beyond Euro 2024. His thoughts are very much with the upcoming season now the FA and Premier League have agreed to make a huge change. It will come into effect next term and has big consequences.
Arsenal will hope the change helps Mikel Arteta bring the Premier League title and more to N5 next season. The north London natives fell two points shy in their quest to win their first top-flight title in 20 years. Arteta is also waiting to lift his second trophy since taking charge.
Arsenal legend Ray Parlour thinks FA Cup replays are ‘really important’ for smaller clubs
Arteta has added just the 2019/20 FA Cup to Arsenal’s trophy cabinet since he replaced Unai Emery in December 2019. But he did seal the Gunners’ first appearance in the quarter-finals of the Champions League since 2010 in 23/24. Now, he will look for more in the 24/25 term.
The FA and Premier League agreeing to drop FA Cup replays from the 24/25 season might also help Arsenal. But Parlour thinks it is ‘really important’ for replays to stay on the schedule as they are crucial for smaller clubs. The FA Cup will axe replays from the first round onward.
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Premier League and FA executives agreed to drop FA Cup replays from the first proper stage over wanting to maintain player welfare. The FA Cup will also only be played on weekends in future years. But Parlour feels it is a mistake for the lower tiers to lose replays in the FA Cup.
Parlour told the Mirror: “There should be replays because it’s all about the lower divisions getting that right draw and that revenue. Financially, it’s really important for smaller clubs. I agree with having replays but that’s the way it’s gone. It’s still a massive trophy to win.”
Only two Premier League sides playing in Europe needed FA Cup replays in 2023/24
Arsenal legend Parlour has urged the Football Association and Premier League to rethink the decision to scrap FA Cup relays on the week of the 23/24 final. Wembley will host an all-top-flight affair with Manchester City facing rivals Manchester United under the arch on May 25.
Neither the Citizens nor Red Devils required a replay to make it to the FA Cup final with both sides winning all five of their previous games. Just Aston Villa and West Ham United also had an FA Cup tie go to a replay among the Premier League clubs who played in Europe in 23/24.
Aston Villa and Chelsea took a fourth-round tie to a replay after drawing 0-0 in January. The Villans then faced the Blues but lost 3-1 in between Premier League games against Sheffield United (5-0 win) and Manchester United (2-1 loss), with three days’ rest on either side, too.
Chelsea had two days’ rest after losing 4-2 to Wolves in the top-flight, before beating Aston Villa in a replay, followed by four days off. West Ham, meanwhile, had their winter break in January before heading to Championship side Bristol City in their FA Cup third-round replay.