PREVIEW Oxford United v Arsenal

Oxford United take on Arsenal tonight in a sold out Emirates FA Cup third round tie at the Kassam Stadium (8pm)

“”It will be a fantastic occasion” Karl Robinson said. “I have so much respect for Arsenal as a club and it will be great for our fans and the players on Monday night. 95 times out of a hundred they win the game, it’s as simple as that. But that’s why the FA Cup is still such a great competition. We have had so much media attention, we will be on TV and people will be watching and hoping we can do something sensational.

“It’s been slightly odd for us. We aren’t used to playing on a Monday night so we had to change training around a little, but we were in all weekend and we have looked good. There was a bug going round, I think it’s been going round the whole country, but players who had it have shaken it off now so we don't have to worry about that.

“It’s exciting. I ran into someone the other day who was talking about the days when Oxford used to beat Arsenal under Jim Smith. That generation of fans will have those memories forever but we want to create new memories and have young kids around Oxford going into school on Monday excited because they have a ticket for the game that night. And then we want them to go back in the next day buzzing about the game of football they saw.

“Tactically we can’t be naive, we are playing against one of the best teams in the country, but we are a good team and we will give it a real go. The players give absolutely everything in every game and we won’t fear the opposition. We will be ready and we are really looking forward to it.”

The Opposition View
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta won the FA Cup in his first season with the Gunners but will be wary tonight after Arsenal crashed out of the competition to then Championship side Nottingham Forest last season.

"It is a competition that we are really looking forward to play in, and brings back huge memories to our football club and the team, because not many years ago we won it, but also last year how we went out of the competition” he said. “It’s a competition that we really want to play in and compete. The ambition is to win on Monday first, and then go slowly because it’s a long run."

“ It is obviously a competition that is attached to the successful history of this club, so on Monday we’ll have a good start and a good test." he said

"It’s always tricky, I’ve played there a few times and have experienced very difficult matches, so it will be difficult. We have to take the competition and the opponent very seriously and play well, to a high level to win the match.

"It will be difficult. From what we’ve seen Oxford’ve played in different ways, and result-wise as well they’ve had a bit of everything. It’ll be a very special night and everybody will raise their level and it will be tough."

THE MATCH
The game kicks off at 8pm at the Kassam Stadium, Grenoble Road, Oxford OX4 4XP. If the game ends level after 90 minutes there will be no extra time it will go straight to a replay at Arsenal.

TICKETS
Tickets are sold out in the home and away areas.