Arsène Wenger’s young Gunners were handed a mouthwatering challenge on Saturday afternoon and will welcome Rafa Benitez’s team to Emirates Stadium on October 27 or 28.

Arsenal eased into the Fourth Round with a 2-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday night.

Blackburn Rovers v Peterborough United
Manchester City v Scunthorpe United
Tottenham Hotspur v Everton
Barnsley v Manchester United
Chelsea v Bolton Wanderers
Sunderland v Aston Villa
Arsenal v Liverpool
Portsmouth v Stoke City

Premier League

Arsenal

• 01 Almunia
• 10 Gallas
• 27 Eboue
• 28 Gibbs
• 02 Diabyyellow card
• 04 Fabregas (Ramsey 46)
• 05 Vermaelen
• 15 Denilson
• 23 Arshavin (Merida 71)
• 09 Eduardo (Bendtner 71)
• 11 Van Persie

Substitutes

• 24 Mannone,
• 03 Sagna,
• 22 Clichy,
• 16 Ramsey,
• 17 Song Billong,
• 46 Merida,
• 52 Bendtner

Ratings:
                                                                     Almunia
                                                                          (7)

                   Sagna                   Gallas                        Vermaelen                   Clichy
                      (7)                        (8.5)                               (8.5)                           (7.5)

                                 Fabregas                      Song                          Denilson
                                      (9)                                (8)                                 (7)

                                 Bentdner                 Van Persie                 Arshavin
                                    (6)                                  (8.5)                           (7.5)

Subs that appeared:
Diaby -(arshavin) 69′ (7)

It wasnt the most convincing and dominating of victories but what is important we got two away goals and won. We played well when called upon and were also able to scrap and not just win through beautiful football. I can see Wengers tactic of having Bendtner on the wing to knock the ball down to R.V.P and Arshavin but dont feel he gets fully involved. I would love to see a front line of Eduardo, Van. Persie, Arshavin just to see how it would work out.

On another note i have been begging Wenger for a new signing since the start and even before the window. For the first time ever tonight i actually questioned whether we need a new player. Okay! Dont shot the messenger hear me out: We have such an all round team on the pitch, i am a big fan of Song thought he was our most improved player last season and would not mind seeing him start for us in that holding role at all! Our centre backs seem to be geling well and Gallas seems on top of his game since the departure of kolo. In the middle of course we have cesc. Up front we have two world class  strikers (Arshavin and V.Persie)…and Bendtner (who is tall!!) with Eduardo on the bench.
All this with still Rosicky dare i say it to come back, Nasri, Walcott and Vela. Also Wilshere and also Diaby who impacted on tonights second goal.
Alright so we are not perfect and may not last the season with injuries and the usual..but i felt tonight we were really complete. If we were going to buy id say another centre back to add to the depth of the squad, i was first begging for Hangeland who i said would be our ideal signing and perfect for the club but i am really impressed with our CB’s at the moment. Possibly a back up striker because other than who we start and Eduardo on the bench no real impact striker buy yeah. My one concern is , if Song gets injured whos gonna play in the middle..cesc? and then lose the creativity and golas scored having to stay back…hmmmm…anyways, Things are looking good!

Sorry for the long post…its been a while!

HarregasTheGooner.

I’m sorry but for legal reason we’re not allowed to shwow on this site the full fixtures but you can see them by clicking here

Jermaine Pennant and Younes Kaboul could be recalled to Portsmouth’s starting line-up but Niko Kranjcar has been ruled out with an ankle injury.

Armand Traore is ineligible to play against Arsenal under the terms of his loan move from the Gunners.

Arsenal will be without Robin van Persie, Eduardo and Mikael Silvestre, who all have groin injuries.

Gael Clichy (back) is sidelined along with William Gallas and Tomas Rosicky.

Arsenal (from): Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Djourou, Gibbs, Arshavin, Denilson, Song, Eboue, Bendtner, Vela, Fabianski, Nasri, Fabregas, Walcott, Adebayor, Diaby, Ramsey.

“They have proved in the past that they have strength in depth. They give young players a chance and on the whole they do not disappoint

“I have got to prepare my team for a tough game.

“We still need the points, I don’t think we are safe until mathematically it is not possible for us to go down. We need to keep our foot on the pedal.”

Arsenal need one more victory to be mathematically certain of a top four finish and a place in the Play Off round for next seasons Champions League, Although, if they were to win this season’s competition, entry to the group phase would be automatic. To that end Tuesday’s second leg of the semi-final with Manchester United at the Emirates will be their priority, over and above a league clash on the south coast.

Portsmouth need six points from the last 12 available to be guaranteed Premier League football next season, but going into this game with a seven-point cushion between themselves and the bottom three, Pompey supporters must feel a seventh successive top-flight campaign is all but assured already.

“He’s a very good player with good work rate, good vision and a good technical level,” said the Arsenal manager. “[He has] good efficiency as well in terms of assists.

“I personally rate him. I believe he has had a good season and since I have known him, he is a good player. I am surprised that he didn’t play in the national team.”

Match Preview

PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Emirates Stadium Date: Saturday, 4 April Kick-off: 1500 BST

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas returns after three months out with a knee injury and Theo Walcott, Emmanuel Adebayor and Nicklas Bendtner are back.

But Robin van Perise and Eduardo (both groin), Abou Diaby (thigh) and Samir Nasri (virus) are all out.

Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy (knee) is a major doubt but Robinho is should be fit despite limping out of Brazil’s midweek World Cup qualifier.

Wayne Bridge could also be in line to return from a hamstring injury.

Manchester City (from): Given, Richards, Onuoha, Dunne, Zabaleta, Wright-Phillips, Elano, De Jong, Kompany, Robinho, Bojinov, Bridge, Garrido, Fernandes, Evans, Etuhu, Berti, Vassell, McGivern, Hart.

“But it is the final part of the season where every single game becomes massively important, nearly a decider.

“We have eight games in 24 days and our success will be determined by the squad and not by any given player.”

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes:
“It will not be a case of us trying to stop them playing because I have talent at my disposal.

“It is about having a game plan that will prevent Arsenal dictating the tempo of the play for 90 minutes.

“It isn’t a matter of getting in the faces of the Arsenal players and being physical, it is about having an effect on their game that enhances your own.”

“I categorically deny that I spat at anybody after the match. I have never done this in my whole career on the pitch, so why would I do it when I am not even playing?

“I can understand the frustration of losing a game to a dubious goal, that has happened to me many times in my career as well. But this is not the fault of me or any of the Arsenal players.”

Phil Brown’s team played a game of football yesterday that was clearly cheating, they waisted about 30 seconds on every spot kick there was and whenever Sagna or Walcott got the ball there was an arm either holding them back or tugging a shirt.

In all 5 Hull players saw Yellow in the match but there should have been at least 1 red card simply due to the amount of fouls and time waisting. It was very very funny when Hull went 2-1 and suddenly they were all rushing the free kicks and goal kicks. Hmm I wonder why?

Anyway were through to the semi final against Chelsea on the 18th April. Bring it on!

Match highlights to be posted later.

Here are the various match reports:

BBC Sport match report

Sky Sports match report

Yahoo – Eurosport report

Official Arsenal Match Report

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This is rather upbeat from a man on MOTD (Match of the day) who generally is criticising, so I’m rather pleased about his comments.

If we beat Blackburn today we will go fourth for at least 24 hours and then tomorrow for the first time I will be cheering on Spurs to beat Villa. Unfortunate news is that Eduardo is out for the game today due to a slight groin strain but nothing serious, only out for  this game.

Mark Lawrenson on Arsenal side!

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Match Highlights

Carlos Vela goal 25 minutes

Eduardo 51 minutes

Eboue 84 minutes

Match Reports

BBC Sport match report

Sky Sports match report

Setanta Sports match report

Interviews

Arsene Wenger on the game and players

Match Facts

Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Djourou, Gallas, Gibbs, Eduardo (Walcott 71), Song Billong, Diaby (Ramsey 71), Vela (Van Persie 60), Eboue, Arshavin.
Subs Not Used: Almunia, Clichy, Bendtner, Bischoff.

Goals: Vela 25, Eduardo 51, Eboue 84.

Burnley: Jensen, Alexander, Caldwell, Carlisle, Kalvenes, McDonald (MacDonald 75), McCann, Gudjonsson (Thompson 58), Eagles (Elliott 53), Paterson, Blake.
Subs Not Used: Penny, Mahon, Rodriguez, Jordan.

Booked: McDonald.

Att: 57,454

Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside).