What’s Hot and What’s Not from the FA Cup fifth round draw

Non-league outfit Sutton United will host Premier League giants Arsenal in the fifth round of the FA Cup following yesterday’s draw.

Paul Doswell’s side, currently 16th in the National League, overcame Championship high-flyers Leeds United in round four, and have been rewarded with a glamour tie as Arsene Wenger’s Gunners, 12-times FA Cup winners, will visit Gander Green Lane in the last 16.

Fellow non-league side Lincoln City, who have beaten two Championship oppositions en route to the last 16, travel to top-flight outfit Burnley, while giant-killers Oxford United and Wolves take on Middlesbrough and Premier League leaders Chelsea respectively.

League One side Millwall, who beat Watford in round four, host either Derby County or Leicester, while Hull City’s conquerors Fulham take on the Premier League’s third place side Tottenham in the fifth round.

Holders Manchester United go to Blackburn, while neighbours Manchester City visit Championship promotion contenders Huddersfield Town.

In what was a fascinating draw, here is What’s Hot and What’s Not from Monday’s FA Cup fifth round draw…

HOT – Sutton United

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

What a draw for Sutton United!

Their reward for knocking out AFC Wimbledon and then Leeds United is a home tie against 12-times FA Cup winners Arsenal, who boast the likes of Alexis Sanchez and World Cup winners Mesut Ozil and Shkodran Mustafi in their ranks.

Unsurprisingly, the two teams have never met before, but at Gander Green Lane, Paul Doswell’s side will be well up for the cup, and will make it extremely difficult for the Gunners in a few weeks’ time.

Just 16 miles separates the two clubs, but there is a huge gulf in terms of stature – that means nothing in the FA Cup though, and Sutton will be sure to give it a real go when they meet Arsenal in the fifth round.

NOT – Lincoln City

Lincoln City, currently top of the National League, have beaten both Ipswich Town and Brighton en route to round five, and would have been hoping for a glamour tie in the last 16.

Yet (no disrespect to Burnley) they haven’t quite got what they were hoping for.

Darren Cowley’s side will make the trip up to Turf Moor in a fortnight’s time and, although the Clarets are a Premier League club doing well in the top-flight, Lincoln would have been hoping for more in round five.

Nonetheless, it gives the Imps a chance of progressing given that Sean Dyche is likely to rest several first team players, he changed eight in the win over Bristol City, and given that their Premier League survival is far from certain.

However, Cowley and his men would have been hoping for something more glamourous in the fifth round, especially given how the draw eventually panned out.

HOT – The FA Cup

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Many managers received criticism over the weekend for their treatment of the FA Cup, with the 13 Premier League clubs making 98 changes between them for their fourth round clashes.

However, many won’t get away with doing so again in round five given the calibre of opposition they face.

Premier League leaders Chelsea face a tricky trip to Wolves, who have already knocked Liverpool out of the competition, while Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City go to Huddersfield, who have been excellent in the Championship this term.

Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United travel to Blackburn who, although are in the bottom three, have looked better in recent weeks, while as we all know Arsenal go to giant-killers Sutton, and North London rivals Tottenham visit Fulham, who knocked Hull out of the FA Cup and are going well in the Championship.

Add in Premier League away trips for Lincoln and Oxford, and the draw was a good one – it’s set up to be a magical weekend of action in the middle of February.

NOT – Oxford United

A bit like Lincoln, League One outfit Oxford United may have been hoping for something better than Middlesbrough away in round five.

Michael Appleton’s men dispatched Championship high-flyers Newcastle United 3-0 in the fourth round, and arguably would have been hoping for a home tie for a better chance of progression, or a top six club away from home.

However, they will visit Aitor Karanka’s Boro, who narrowly got past Accrington Stanley in the last round, and that result could give the U’s encouragement ahead of their last 16 clash, especially as Boro have struggled in the Premier League recently, and will likely make many changes in a bid to fend off relegation.

Nonetheless, with the way the draw went, Oxford fans may be slightly underwhelmed by the prospect of a 240-mile trip to the Riverside Stadium.

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