Favourites Arsenal draw Middlesbrough in FA Cup Fifth Round

FA Cup holders Arsenal have drawn Middlesbrough in the fifth round, after the Gunners made the draw following a 3-2 win over Brighton.

Their Teesside opponents recorded a magnificent 2-0 victory over English champions Manchester City at the Etihad in the last round, and will relish a trip to the Emirates in what is likely to be an entertaining affair.

At this stage of the competition there are no easy games, so Arsene Wenger’s men will be all too aware of what Aitor Karanka’s crop of Championship talent are capable of, and how they raised their game in the last round.

Likely to be a threat to the Gunners’ backline is Chelsea loanee Patrick Bamford, who netted in the fourth round, and he will be keen to make another impact against one of his parent club’s biggest rivals.

Bamford was understandably delighted with his performance against City, one he no doubts hopes to repeat against the FA Cup holders in the next round.

“Actually all of the lads before the game there was a feeling we could win. That was the important thing because we had got over the fact we were playing the English champions.

“The gaffer said we should respect them but forget the names, just play as a team. And that’s what we did. It was a fantastic occasion for the team and the fans.

“These are the day you play football for. I can’t really describe the feeling when I scored and then when the second one went in. It was amazing.”

Other notable ties in the fifth round include an all-Midlands Premier League match-up between Leicester City and Aston Villa, while the winners of Manchester United and Cambridge United will play Preston North End or Sheffield United.

FA Cup Fifth Round Draw
Arsenal v Middlesbrough
Aston Villa v Leicester City
Preston North End or Sheffield United v Cambridge United or Manchester United
Derby County v Reading
Blackburn Rovers v Rochdale or Stoke City
Bradford City v Sunderland or Fulham
West Bromwich Albion v West Ham
Crystal Palace v Liverpool or Bolton