United to host Arsenal in F.A Cup

Tough tie
By Chris O'Brien
January 30 2008

Manchester United will play Arsenal in the fifth round of the F.A Cup. It's the tie of the round and once which many predicted - but it's not the draw we all wanted. The Gunners have reached the fifth round of the competition after knocking out Burnley and Newcastle United and will be equally disappointed by the draw.

It seems that United will once again have to do it the hard way if they want to go back to Wembley. United overcame Aston Villa, Portsmouth, Reading, Middlesbrough and Watford before losing to Chelsea last season.  This time, they've already had to overcome Villa and Spurs and now face their tenth consecutive Premier League opponent in the competition.

The game is almost certain to be earmarked for television coverage and will take place on the weekend of the 16th and the 17th of February.

Meanwhile, Liverpool host Barnsley, Chelsea entertain Huddersfield Town and Coventry City take on West Brom in a mouth-waering Midlands derby. The full draw is as follows:

Bristol Rovers v Southampton
Cardiff City v Wolves
Sheffield United v Middlesbrough
Liverpool v Barnsley
Manchester United v Arsenal
Preston v Portsmouth
Coventry City v West Brom
Chelsea v Huddersfield Town