Team news, facts and figures ahead of the FA Cup third round clash between Arsenal and Leeds United at the Emirates.
TEAM NEWS
Arsenal will rotate their squad for the FA Cup tie against Leeds, where young midfielder Aaron Ramsey will be back in contention after returning from a loan spell at Nottingham Forest.
Emmanuel Eboue will come in at right-back for the suspended Bacary Sagna while Kieran Gibbs is available again after an ankle injury.
Captain Cesc Fabregas, Jack Wilshere, Robin van Persie, Samir Nasri and Laurent Koscielny are all set to be rested so the likes of Denilson, Craig Eastmond, Nicklas Bendtner and Tomas Rosicky should all start.
Midfielder Abou Diaby (calf), goalkeeper Manuel Almunia (ankle), Abou Diaby (calf) and centre-back Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) remain out.
Leeds trio Sanchez Watt, Lloyd Sam and Andy O’Brien are doubtful for the trip to the Emirates Stadium.
Striker Watt, on a season-long loan from the Gunners, has been given permission to play by Arsene Wenger but sustained a head injury after stepping off the bench in the midweek defeat at Cardiff, where he made only his second appearance since mid-October.
Midfielder Sam is nursing a thigh strain and central defender O’Brien has a dead leg.
Manager Simon Grayson, whose side have played four games in 10 days, must decide whether to retain Ben Parker at left-back after the 23-year-old made his first appearance of the season following a series of injuries.
MATCH FACTS
Leeds are the only team to win away at Arsenal in the FA Cup in the Arsene Wenger era – back in February 1997.
There have been exactly five goals scored in each of the last five matches between Arsenal and Leeds United.
The Whites are unbeaten in their last three matches away to top flight opposition in the FA Cup
The last four times Arsenal and Leeds have been drawn together in the FA Cup, the eventual winner of the tie has triumphed on their opponent’s turf.
Only one of the last seven matches between Leeds and Arsenal has ended as a home win and five were away victories.
Arsenal have never lost to lower league opposition in the FA Cup under Arsene Wenger; in 22 ties they have only been taken to a replay five times.
United’s 12 game unbeaten run came to an end on Tuesday night when the Whites were defeated 1-2 at Cardiff.
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