Swansea, Arsenal keep hopes alive

Swansea City and Arsenal kept their FA Cup hopes alive on Sunday after a dramatic 2-2 draw at the Liberty stadium with a three-goal flurry in the final 10 minutes following a lightning strike from Michu.

The big Spaniard made an instant impact in the 58th minute of the third-round tie when he netted little more than a minute after he came on to chants of “he scores when he wants” from a spirited Welsh crowd.

Arsenal, sensing their best chance of a first trophy since 2005 was slipping through their fingers, replied with a Lukas Podolski equaliser in the 81st minute.

Kieran Gibbs then sent the visitors 2-1 up with a volley two minutes later before Danny Graham grabbed an equaliser from close range in the 87th minute.

Collecting a long ball nodded on by Nathan Dyer, Michu muscled through the defence by lifting the ball past Per Mertesacker in a strong and smooth movement before calmly slotting home.

Chelsea sparkle

Chelsea striker Demba Ba struck twice on his debut as the holders enjoyed a 5-1 drubbing of Southampton in the on Saturday and Robin van Persie's majestic last-gasp equaliser salvaged a 2-2 draw for Manchester United at West Ham.

Senegal international Ba, signed from Newcastle United on Friday, scored the London side's equaliser and their fourth before Frank Lampard's late penalty took the midfielder to joint second on Chelsea's all-time scoring list with 193 goals.

United, 11-times FA Cup winners but not since 2004, were staring at a 2-1 defeat at Upton Park after Joe Cole marked his return to east London by setting up two carbon-copy headers for James Collins after Tom Cleverley put United ahead.

With 90 minutes on the clock, substitute Van Persie rescued his side by controlling a 40-metre pass from Ryan Giggs and dispatching a lethal shot past ’keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

While Ba began in style, the gloom remained at his old club Newcastle, who lost 2-0 at Championship (second tier) Brighton & Hove Albion -- one of several upsets on the day when England's lower-ranked clubs traditionally take aim at the big boys.

Goals from Andrea Orlandi and Will Hoskins earned Brighton, runners-up to Manchester United 30 years ago, a repeat of their fourth-round victory over Premier League Newcastle last season, condemning Alan Pardew's side to an 11th defeat in 14 matches.
Cardiff City, leaders atop the Championship, were the big­g­est victims, losing 2-1 at minor league Macclesfield Town.