Arsenal Set To Host Tottenham As The Race To Wembley Begins

The draws for the FA cup third round have been made, Arsenal will host north London rivals Tottenham at the Emirates. The game is the pick of the bunch, with other notable matches including last season's defeated finalists Manchester City travelling to Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea facing Derby away and Manchester United hosting Swansea.

Current cup holders Wigan will begin their defence of the trophy at home against Milton Keynes Dons. 

Elsewhere, Liverpool will face either Oldham or Mansfield at Anfield, while West Brom v Crystal Palace, Newcastle v Cardiff and Norwich v Fulham are all Premier League clashes.

The last time Arsenal won any trophy was in the FA Cup, in 2005, but to do so again would mean beating their bitter rivals at the first hurdle.

Meanwhile, United might have been hoping for a more favourable cup draw following a hugely disappointing start to the defence of their league title which has seen them lose five times in 15 matches under new boss David Moyes, with their latest setback Saturday's 1-0 loss to Newcastle at Old Trafford.

United have won the FA Cup 11 times, but the last time was back in 2004.

The Fixtures in full

Barnsley v Hartlepool/Coventry
Yeovil v Leyton Orient
Liverpool v Oldham/Mansfield
Nottm Forest v West Ham
Bristol City v Watford
Southend v Millwall
Middlesbrough v Hull
West Brom v Crystal Palace
Kidderminster v Peterborough
Doncaster v Stevenage
Stoke v Leicester
Southampton v Burnley
Newcastle v Cardiff
Rochdale v Leeds
Wigan v MK Dons.
Charlton v Wrexham/Oxford.
Man Utd v Swansea
Port Vale v Plymouth
Norwich v Fulham
Aston Villa v Sheff Utd.
Macclesfield v Sheff Wed.
Sunderland v Carlisle.
Bolton v Blackpool
Blackburn v Man City
Everton v QPR
Brighton v Reading
Arsenal v Tottenham
Birmingham v Bristol Rovers/Crawley
Grimsby v Huddersfield
Ipswich v Preston
Derby v Chelsea
Bournemouth v Fleetwood/Burton


Matches to be played over the weekend of January 4-5.