Preston vs Arsenal live: What time does it start, what TV channel is it on, where can I watch it?
A look ahead to the FA Cup tie at Deepdale
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsene Wenger will name a rotated team for the FA Cup third round tie with Preston at Deepdale, with the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Laurent Koscielny and Petr Cech to be rested, while Mesut Ozil is still out with illness.
Danny Welbeck could make his return from injury but is likely to begin on the bench for the 5.30pm kick off.
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It’s a big game for…
Hector Bellerin: He was run ragged in his last game against Bournemouth where he was at fault for two of the goals. The Spanish full-back will have to put in a good display here to claim his spot for the next league game against Swansea, next weekend.
Best stat…
0: These are the only two clubs in English football history to go a season without losing a single game. Preston North End achieving the feat in 1889 whilst Arsenal completed it in 2004.
Remember when…
The two teams faced each other in an FA Cup tie back in 1999, where Arsenal came back from 2-0 down to triumph 4-2. A quick-fire double from Kurt Nogan sent the Lilywhites racing in to a 2-0 lead but Luis Boa Morte struck before half time. Emmanuel Petit netted twice to turn the game in Arsenal’s favour and Marc Overmars put the game beyond doubt for the Gunners.
Player to watch…
Olivier Giroud: The French striker has been impressive since being drafted back on to the team sheet. In Arsenal’s last game they were trailing 3-0 to Bournemouth with twenty minutes left, and not only did Giroud score the injury time equaliser, he also set up the other two goals for the Gunners.
Past three meetings…
Arsenal 2 (Kanu, Malz) Preston 1 (Macken), League Cup, October 1999
Preston 2 (Nogan 2) Arsenal 4 (Petit 2, Boa Morte, Overmars), FA Cup, January 1999
Preston 2 Arsenal 0, Division One, August 1960
Form guide…
PRESTON: WDWLDW
ARSENAL: WLLWWD
Vital information…
KICK-OFF: 17:30, Saturday 7th January
TV: Live on BT Sport 2
Odds…
PRESTON TO WIN: 7/1
ARSENAL TO WIN: 7/20
DRAW: 15/4
(Odds provided by Betfair)
21 MINS
Tempers unsurprisingly begin to flare for the visitors, as Williams flies into a lunging tackle with Fellaini. However, this is the first time a Reading player has attempted to challenge a red shirt.
Free-kick to Reading.
24 MINS
Reading are beginning to settle, but their attacks are failing to test the United defence and it's leading to Mourinho's men using the pace of Martial and Rashford to counter attack. Nonetheless, the visitors are starting to pass the ball around, but with a two-goal disadvantage - they have a lot to prove.
27 MINS
Smalling puts Rashford through on goal and the striker effortlessly skips past Al-Habsi but somehow he manages to miss the open goal from close range. He will be furious at himself for that one.
29 MINS
Rashford attempts to redeem his mistake with a strike from long range, assisted by Martial. It's a pointless shot that fails to test the 35-year-old keeper.
32 MINS
Williams is patrolling the middle of the park for the visitors and he looks although he could be the catalyst for improvement for his side.
The ball goes wide to McCleary, who effortlessly beats Blind down the right but his delivery into the box has no final product. Stam's men should now recognise this as a potential lifeline and use the 29-year-old more.
34 MINS
A United corner goes short into the box, but the delivery back into the danger zone is easily headed to safety by Kermorgant.
36 MINS
United win a free-kick on the edge of the box, but Mata's strike on goal fails to even beat the wall.
37 MINS
Reading ping the ball around the edge of the box, but United have too many players behind the ball for Stam's men to find a break through. Kermogant misjudges McCleary's run down the right and the home side regain possession.
A feud appears to be beginning between Williams and Fellaini.
40 MINS
Rooney redeems possession in Reading's half and he pings a long-ball wide to Martial. The attack leads to Young pulling the ball back to Mata, but Evans manages to stop the attack with a tremendous sliding block for his side.
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