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)
79 MINS
GOAL
MANCHESTER UNITED 4 - 0 READING
A dismal mistake from Al-Habsi gives Rashford his second goal. The goalkeeper miss-kicks his clearance and the 19-year-old pounces on the loose ball and taps the ball into an open goal. That pretty much sums up this trip to Old Trafford for Stam's men.
82 MINS
The chance of a comeback for the visitors looks somewhat impossible, but this is the FA Cup so we have to remain optimistic. United continue to control possession, as the clock ticks and they ease their way into the fourth round. Reading look lifeless.
84 MINS
Fellaini almost makes it five for the home side, following a scrappy goal-mouth scramble. However, Al-Habsi manages to block the attempt to avoid further humiliation.
87 MINS
A United free-kick is delivered into the box, but Fellaini fails to convert and looses possession inside of the box. Reading charge forward, but the attack deflates and United redeem control. The visitors really are lacking the service up to their forwards, leaving them little threat on the attack.
FULL TIME
MANCHESTER UNITED 4 - 0 READING
Mourinho's men comfortably cruise into the fourth-round of the FA Cup, with the visitors failing to make an impact on the fixture at Old Trafford. With two goals from Rashford and early goals from Rooney and Martial - there looked no return for Stam's men following the early deficit. The pace of the United forward's was uncontrollable for the Championship side, with Al-Habsi being tested continuously for 90 minutes. The visitors showed glimpses of confidence, but it was not enough to break down United's powerful defence.
The sound of the final whistle will come as a relief to promotion-chasing Reading, who have ended their run in the FA Cup here at Old Trafford.
An individual congratulations for Rooney, who made club history by levelling Sir Bobby Charlton's 249 goals for United today.
Stay tuned for live updates of the goals from our 3 o'clock kick-off.
Today's 15:00 kick-off's are as follows:
Wigan Athletic v Nottingham Forrest
Stoke City v Wolves
Sutton United v AFC Wimbledon
Sunderland v Burnley FC
West Brom v Derby County
Brentford v Eastleigh
Wycombe v Stourbridge
Brighton v MK Dons
Watford v Burton Albion
Ipswich Town v Lincoln City
Barrow v Rochdale
Birmingham v Newcastle
Stanley v Luton Town
QPR v Blackburn
Bristol City v Fleetwood
Hull City v Swansea
Norwich City v Southampton
Everton v Leicester City
Rotherham v Oxford
Blackpool v Barnsley
Huddersfield v Port Vale
Millwall v Bournemouth
Bolton v Crystal Palace
It's safe to say there are enough fixtures to keep you amused this Saturday afternoon, so stay tuned to witness the typical FA Cup upsets all across the country.
Then Preston are set to host The Gunners tonight for our 17:30 kick-off. Stay tuned.
One to keep an eye-on...
Bolton v Crystal Palace
New Palace boss Allardyce returns to former-club Bolton, in a desperate bid for his side to give the 4-time FA Cup winners an early exit from progressing to the fourth round. This should be an exciting one.
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