What would have been a heavyweight clash ten years ago is now just a game with a slim chance of upset in the FA Cup as Leeds United travel to the Emirates Stadium to play Arsenal.
Today it may not be such high quality football from both sides but don't count out Championship Leeds, who caused a massive upset last season as they dumped Manchester United out of the cup thanks to a goal from the now departed Jermaine Beckford. The Whites have gone from strength to strength this season, currently sitting in 5th place, looking to challenge the likes of Cardiff for automatic promotion back to the Premier League.
Their form has dropped off in their last four games, drawing three and losing one to promotion rivals Cardiff, but overall they have claimed nine points from their last six games, they will, however, have to up their game for the trip to Arsenal.
The gunners have been patchy of late, their last game, a dour 0-0 draw at home to Manchester City was preceded by a 3-0 win at Birmingham which in turn came after a disappointing 2-2 draw with Wigan and a 3-1 win over Chelsea. They do sit 3rd in the Premier League, though, and still have four chances of winning silverware this season which would be their first since winning the FA Cup in 2005.
Last seasons FA Cup saw both sides fall in the fourth round, Arsenal losing 3-1 to Stoke and Leeds by the same scoreline in a replay against Tottenham. But it was to be a memorable cup run for Leeds who, after overcoming Oldham and Kettering in rounds one and two, beat Manchester United at Old Trafford, the first time since a 1984 defeat to Harry Redknapp's Bournemouth that a side from a lower division had knocked United out of the cup.
The record between the two sides is even in nearly all forms of matches, the difference though, is in the FA Cup, where Arsenal hold a five wins to two advantage over Leeds. The clubs haven't met since they were both in the Premier League, when, aside from the two league games, they faced off in the FA Cup where Arsenal came out on top, coming from behind to thump Leeds 4-1 at Elland Road. The last Leeds victory over the Londoner's came on the last day of the 2002/03 season when goals from Mark Viduka, Ian Harte and Harry Kewell gave the Yorkshire club a 3-2 win at Highbury.
Arsenal are likely to make changes to their side and rest players including Jack Wilshere, Laurent Koscielny, Samir Nasri, Robin Van Persie and Gael Clichy who will be replaced by England international Kieran Gibbs.
Aaron Ramsey has also been included in the squad for the first time since his horrific double leg break at Stoke last season.
Bacary Sagna is suspended after his red card against Manchester City, a decision that Arsenal have not appealed, meaning the Frenchman will be out for the next three domestic games. It is thought that Emmanuel Eboue will be the man to step into Sagna's place.
Abou Diaby, Manuel Almunia and Thomas Vermaelen will all be missing with injuries.
For Leeds top scorer Luciano Becchio will return in place of Billy Paynter after being rested in the midweek defeat at Cardiff.
Lloyd Sam is out with a thight injury while Andy O'Brien suffered a dead leg against Cardiff. Neil Kilkenny is away with Australia at the Asian Nations Cup.
The most notable addition to the Leeds line-up will be Sanchez Watt, currently on loan at Elland Road from the Gunners, who has been given permission to play against his parent club as long as he recovers from a head injury suffered on Tuesday night.
Leeds manager Simon Grayson has bemoaned the recent run of games his side have played in such a short amount of time over the festive period, he told leedsunited.com:
"We're depleted somewhat by injury as it stands.
"We've had a lot of games in a short space of time, and that has taken its toll. I'm not surprised, given the run we've had, so we'll take things as they come over the next day.
"It was a tough game in midweek in terms of knocks, but we'll see what we have. Every player wants to be involved, and there'll be some who are disappointed, but I have to pick a team with one eye on what we've done and one eye on what's coming up against Scunthorpe the next weekend."
Whatever the result it will be an entertaining match, played out by two teams who try to play their football in the right manner, but, it should be Arsenal who are too strong for Leeds on the day.
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