Arsenal will play host to Leeds United in the final game of the FA Cup third round on Monday.
The winner of this game will win a spot in the fourth round where they will play host to Aston Villa.
These two teams met at the third round stage this time last year, when Arsenal needed a replay to get past Leeds.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has not forgotten last year’s battle, and hopes his team bounce back from their most recent outing, a 2-1 Premier League defeat at Fulham.
“We have the experience of last year when we couldn’t beat (Leeds) at home, so let’s hope we can do it this year,” Wenger told BBC Sport. “We just lost a game in the league at Fulham which gave us a lot of regrets, so we want to respond quickly.”
Robin van Persie will be rested for the Gunners, but club legend Thierry Henry is expected to feature after rejoining on loan from the New York Red Bulls.
Gervinho is away representing the Ivory Coast in the African Cup of Nations, while the Gunners will also be without suspended defender Johan Djourou.
Patrick Kisnorbo is ruled out with a season ending knee injury for Leeds, while Tom Lees and Alex Bruce are injury doubts.
Manchester City will play host to Manchester United in the glamour tie of the FA Cup third round on Sunday.
A place in the fourth round will be at stake in this game, not to mention scoring points in the ongoing battle for power in Manchester.
United are the defending Premier League champions, but City are the FA Cup holders and currently hold a three point lead over United at the top of the league table. Not to mention, United will be out for revenge for what happened the last time these teams met, a game that ended in a shocking 6-1 win for City at Old Trafford.
The mind games between the two managers of these teams has continued apace in the buildup to this game. Sir Alex Ferguson claimed that City were “not playing the best football in England,” while Mancini laughed off the taunt and exclaimed “sometimes it is difficult to admit your neighbor is playing better football.”
These two teams have won the FA Cup a combined 17 times between them. Current holders City have won the trophy six times, while United’s 2004 victory over Millwall was their 11th tournament win.
Yaya Toure scored the winning goal in the semi-final and final of last season’s triumphant FA Cup run, but will be unavailable for this game. Yaya and his brother Kolo Toure have left to represent the Ivory Coast in the upcoming African Cup of Nations tournament. Mario Balotelli is struggling with an ankle injury and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
United have a lengthy injury list ahead of this game that is headlined by Nemanja Vidic, Jonny Evans, Darren Fletcher and Ashley Young. Defender Chris Smalling is an injury doubt and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Leading goal scorer Wayne Rooney will lead the United attack, and the club has denied media rumors that he will be leaving the club during the January transfer window.
Portsmouth will travel to face Chel in a rematch of the 2010 FA Cup final on Sunday.
Chelsea have won the FA cup six times, including three wins the last five seasons. Portsmouth won this trophy twice, but have fallen a long way since the day they beat Cardiff City in the 2008 final.
Chelsea will enter this game fourth placed in the Premier League, while Portsmouth are sitting 17th in the Championship and struggling financially.
Chelsea will be without attacking duo Didier Drogba and Saloman Kalou for this game. The pair have left to represent the Ivory Coast in the upcoming African Cup of Nations tournament.
Captain John Terry is struggling with a knee injury for Chelsea and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Ricardo Rocha is expected to be back from a calf injury for Portsmouth, while Gteg Halford and Joel Ward will return from suspension.
Striker Luke Varney is doubtful due to a knee injury and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Arsenal will play host to Leeds United in the final game of the FA Cup third round on Monday.
The winner of this game will win a spot in the fourth round where they will play host to Aston Villa.
These two teams met at the third round stage this time last year, when Arsenal needed a replay to get past Leeds.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has not forgotten last year’s battle, and hopes his team bounce back from their most recent outing, a 2-1 Premier League defeat at Fulham.
“We have the experience of last year when we couldn’t beat (Leeds) at home, so let’s hope we can do it this year,” Wenger told BBC Sport. “We just lost a game in the league at Fulham which gave us a lot of regrets, so we want to respond quickly.”
Robin van Persie will be rested for the Gunners, but club legend Thierry Henry is expected to feature after rejoining on loan from the New York Red Bulls.
Gervinho is away representing the Ivory Coast in the African Cup of Nations, while the Gunners will also be without suspended defender Johan Djourou.
Patrick Kisnorbo is ruled out with a season ending knee injury for Leeds, while Tom Lees and Alex Bruce are injury doubts.
These two teams met at the third round stage this time last year, when Arsenal needed a replay to get past Leeds.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has not forgotten last year’s battle, and hopes his team bounce back from their most recent outing, a 2-1 Premier League defeat at Fulham.
“We have the experience of last year when we couldn’t beat (Leeds) at home, so let’s hope we can do it this year,” Wenger told BBC Sport. “We just lost a game in the league at Fulham which gave us a lot of regrets, so we want to respond quickly.”
Robin van Persie will be rested for the Gunners, but club legend Thierry Henry is expected to feature after rejoining on loan from the New York Red Bulls.
Gervinho is away representing the Ivory Coast in the African Cup of Nations, while the Gunners will also be without suspended defender Johan Djourou.
Patrick Kisnorbo is ruled out with a season ending knee injury for Leeds, while Tom Lees and Alex Bruce are injury doubts.
Manchester City will play host to Manchester United in the glamour tie of the FA Cup third round on Sunday.
A place in the fourth round will be at stake in this game, not to mention scoring points in the ongoing battle for power in Manchester.
United are the defending Premier League champions, but City are the FA Cup holders and currently hold a three point lead over United at the top of the league table. Not to mention, United will be out for revenge for what happened the last time these teams met, a game that ended in a shocking 6-1 win for City at Old Trafford.
The mind games between the two managers of these teams has continued apace in the buildup to this game. Sir Alex Ferguson claimed that City were “not playing the best football in England,” while Mancini laughed off the taunt and exclaimed “sometimes it is difficult to admit your neighbor is playing better football.”
These two teams have won the FA Cup a combined 17 times between them. Current holders City have won the trophy six times, while United’s 2004 victory over Millwall was their 11th tournament win.
Yaya Toure scored the winning goal in the semi-final and final of last season’s triumphant FA Cup run, but will be unavailable for this game. Yaya and his brother Kolo Toure have left to represent the Ivory Coast in the upcoming African Cup of Nations tournament. Mario Balotelli is struggling with an ankle injury and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
United have a lengthy injury list ahead of this game that is headlined by Nemanja Vidic, Jonny Evans, Darren Fletcher and Ashley Young. Defender Chris Smalling is an injury doubt and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Leading goal scorer Wayne Rooney will lead the United attack, and the club has denied media rumors that he will be leaving the club during the January transfer window.
Portsmouth will travel to face Chel in a rematch of the 2010 FA Cup final on Sunday.
Chelsea have won the FA cup six times, including three wins the last five seasons. Portsmouth won this trophy twice, but have fallen a long way since the day they beat Cardiff City in the 2008 final.
Chelsea will enter this game fourth placed in the Premier League, while Portsmouth are sitting 17th in the Championship and struggling financially.
Chelsea will be without attacking duo Didier Drogba and Saloman Kalou for this game. The pair have left to represent the Ivory Coast in the upcoming African Cup of Nations tournament.
Captain John Terry is struggling with a knee injury for Chelsea and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Ricardo Rocha is expected to be back from a calf injury for Portsmouth, while Gteg Halford and Joel Ward will return from suspension.
Striker Luke Varney is doubtful due to a knee injury and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Arsenal will play host to Leeds United in the final game of the FA Cup third round on Monday.
The winner of this game will win a spot in the fourth round where they will play host to Aston Villa.
These two teams met at the third round stage this time last year, when Arsenal needed a replay to get past Leeds.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has not forgotten last year’s battle, and hopes his team bounce back from their most recent outing, a 2-1 Premier League defeat at Fulham.
“We have the experience of last year when we couldn’t beat (Leeds) at home, so let’s hope we can do it this year,” Wenger told BBC Sport. “We just lost a game in the league at Fulham which gave us a lot of regrets, so we want to respond quickly.”
Robin van Persie will be rested for the Gunners, but club legend Thierry Henry is expected to feature after rejoining on loan from the New York Red Bulls.
Gervinho is away representing the Ivory Coast in the African Cup of Nations, while the Gunners will also be without suspended defender Johan Djourou.
Patrick Kisnorbo is ruled out with a season ending knee injury for Leeds, while Tom Lees and Alex Bruce are injury doubts.
