Arsenal likely to field youngsters following favourable FA Cup draw

Arsenal will make the long trip to take on Preston North End next month in the FA Cup, and will most likely be gifting experience to some of our young guns.

Arsene Wenger is well-known for using the League Cup as a platform for his youngsters, but with the coming FA Cup round following on shortly after a very busy festive period, I have no doubt in my mind that the Frenchman will use the match to field some of our developing stars.

Jeff Reine-Adelaide and and Ainsley Maitland-Niles will likely start the match, while Chris Willock could also get a rare call-up to the first-team. A number of squad members will likely be fielded also, but naming which would be impossible this far away, with injuries and fitness issues likely after the busy and cold month ahead.

The Gunners will have to take on Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium on the Saturday, before travelling to Bournemouth for another league encounter three days later, before having to play in the cup in what will be our third game in seven or eight days, with the match likely to be played on either the Saturday or Sunday.

All of the cup fixtures are scheduled to take place between the Friday and Monday, with the bulk of those on the Saturday.

Full FA Cup third round draw:

Manchester United v Reading
Hull City v Swansea City
Sunderland v Burnley
Millwall v Bournemouth
West Ham United v Manchester City
Chelsea v Notts County/Peterborough United
Middlesbrough v Sheffield Wednesday
West Brom v Derby County
Liverpool v Newport County/Plymouth Argyle
Watford v Burton Albion
Preston North End v Arsenal
Everton v Leicester City
Stoke City v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa
Bolton Wanderers v Crystal Palace
Norwich City v Southampton
Ipswich Town v Lincoln City/Oldham Athletic
Barrow v Rochdale
Queens Park Rangers v Blackburn Rovers
Brighton & Hove Albion v MK Dons/Charlton Athletic
Blackpool v Barnsley
Wigan Athletic v Nottingham Forest
Birmingham City v Newcastle United
Wycombe Wanderers v Stourbridge/Northampton Town
Cardiff City v Fulham
Cambridge United v Leeds United
Bristol City v Shrewsbury Town/Fleetwood Town
Huddersfield Town v Port Vale
Brentford v Halifax Town/Eastleigh
Sutton United v AFC Wimbledon
Accrington Stanley v Luton Town
Rotherham United v Oxford United/Macclesfield Town