Preview: Arsenal v. Leeds United, FA Cup 3rd Round

Thierry Henry hit four past Leeds in their last meeting. Pic via BBC.

Emirates Stadium, London

Saturday, January 8

12:45 p.m. GMT, 7:45 a.m. EST

• Referee: Chris Foy
• Last League Match: Arsenal 5 - 0 Leeds (April 16, 2004)
• All-Time in All Competitions: 44 Arsenal wins, 41 Leeds wins, 31 draws
• All-Time in FA Cup: 5 Arsenal wins, 2 Leeds wins, 6 draws
• Arsenal's Premier League Form: W-L-W-D-W-D
• Leeds's Championship Form: W-W-D-D-D-L
• Potential Replay Date: January 18 or 19

Predicted Line-Up

all guesswork

Szczesny

Eboue - Djourou - Squillaci - Gibbs

Eastmond - Denilson

Bendtner - Rosicky - Vela

Chamakh

Subs from: Fabianski, Koscielny, Clichy, Ramsey, Wilshere, Arshavin, Emmanuel-Thomas

Suspended: Sagna (first of three, violent conduct)

Out: Diaby (calf), Almunia (ankle), Vermaelen (Achilles)

Arsenal News and Notes

• Emmanuel Eboue will certainly return to the squad, with Bacary Sagna serving a three match ban.
• Kieran Gibbs appears ready to start as well, at left back.
• I imagine Sebastien Squillaci will return as well, but don't know which other center back will drop to the bench. I guessed Johan Djourou to start.
• Wojciech Szczesny will likely start in goal, but with Vito Mannone still out on loan until January 31 (and hurt,) Fabianski will be on the bench.
• The midfielders and forwards, though? I have no clue.
• Aaron Ramsey probably won't start, but it'd be great to see him on the bench, maybe coming on as a substitute.
• Since losing consecutive matches to Tottenham and Braga at the end of November, Arsenal have lost only one of their last nine fixtures across all competitions. They are currently unbeaten in four.
• Arsenal have not gone unbeaten in five straight fixtures since October.

Leeds News and Notes

• Sanchez Watt, on loan from Arsenal, has been granted permission to feature. However, he picked up a head injury against Cardiff City on Tuesday which required stitches.
• Defender Ben Parker, who had been a long term absence after hip surgery, played his first 90 minutes since August of 2009 on Tuesday.
• Leeds-born-but-grew-up-in-London-and-is-an-Arsenal-supporting winger Lloyd Sam came on as a substitute Tuesday, but picked up a thigh injury after six minutes, and is now a doubt.
• Defender Andy O'Brien is also a doubt with a dead leg.
• Leeds was unbeaten in 12 before losing to Cardiff on Tuesday. Their last loss before that was also to Cardiff.
• During the streak, Leeds rose from 16th in the Championship to as high as 2nd. They currently sit 5th.

Match Facts

• The last time Arsenal played a non-Premier League side in a domestic cup tie was the third round of last year's Carling Cup, against then-Championship side West Bromwich Albion. Since then, they've played Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, and Wigan Athletic in the Carling Cup and West Ham United and Stoke City in the FA Cup.
• Arsenal won all three meetings with Leeds in their most recent top flight season, 2003/04. Then again, Arsenal didn't lose that year, which you might recall. Arsenal won the league meetings 5-0 at Highbury (Henry scored four) and 4-1 at Elland Road. Arsenal also won an FA Cup tie 4-1 at Elland Road.
• Leeds's last win against Arsenal was a year before that, by a 3-2 score at Highbury. Mark Viduka had the 88th minute winner.
• Leeds United has only won one FA Cup in their history. It was in 1972 and they beat Arsenal 1-0 in the final.

The Referee

• The referee is Merseyside-based Chris Foy, who took charge of last year's FA Cup Final.
• Arsenal have won both matches worked by Foy in which they've played this year by 2-1 scores, first at Blackburn then at home against Fulham.
• Foy has taken charge of one Championship match this year and it was Leeds's 2-1 win at Middlesbrough.

Other Third Round Ties

• Saturday: Burnley v. Port Vale; Turf Moor, Burnley
• Saturday: Coventry City v. Crystal Palace; Ricoh Arena, Coventry
• Saturday: Bristol City v. Sheffield Wednesday; Ashton Gate, Bristol
• Saturday: Fulham v. Peterborough United; Craven Cottage, London
• Saturday: Doncaster Rovers v. Wolverhampton Wanderers; Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster
• Saturday: Brighton & Hove Albion v. Portsmouth; Withdean Stadium, Brighton
• Saturday: Huddersfield Town v. Dover Athletic; Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield
• Saturday: West Ham United v. Barnsley; Boleyn Ground, London
• Saturday: Reading v. West Bromwich Albion; Madejski Stadium, Reading
• Saturday: Sheffield United v. Aston Villa; Bramall Lane, Sheffield
• Saturday: Bolton Wanderers v. York City; Reebok Stadium, Bolton
• Saturday: Blackburn Rovers v. Queens Park Rangers; Ewood Park, Blackburn
• Saturday: Swansea City v. Colchester United; Liberty Stadium, Swansea
• Saturday: Stevenage v. Newcastle United; Broadhall Way, Stevenage
• Saturday: Burton Albion v. Middlesbrough; Pirelli Stadium, Burton upon Trent
• Saturday: Millwall v. Birmingham City; The Den, London
• Saturday: Southampton v. Blackpool; St. Mary's, Southampton
• Saturday: Watford v. Hartlepool United; Vicarage Road, Watford
• Saturday: Sunderland v. Notts County; Stadium of Light, Sunderland
• Saturday: Scunthorpe United v. Everton; Glanford Park, Scunthorpe
• Saturday: Hull City v. Wigan Athletic; KC Stadium, Kingston upon Hull
• Saturday: Stoke City v. Cardiff City; Britannia Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent
• Saturday: Preston North End v. Nottingham Forest; Deepdale, Preston
• Saturday: Norwich City v. Leyton Orient; Carrow Road, Norwich
• Saturday: Torquay United v. Carlisle United; Plainmoor, Torquay
• Sunday: Leicester City v. Manchester City; Walkers Stadium, Leicester
• Sunday: Chelsea v. Ipswich Town; Stamford Bridge, London
• Sunday: Manchester United v. Liverpool; Old Trafford, Manchester
• Sunday: Tottenham Hotspur v. Charlton Athletic; White Hart Lane, London
• Monday: Crawley Town v. Derby County; Broadfield Stadium, Crawley
• Tuesday: Wycombe Wanderers v. Hereford United or Lincoln City; Adams Park, High Wycombe