Arsenal FA Cup Draw Will Bring Deja Vu

The draws for the third round of the FA Cup have been made as Arsenal eye up three straight years taking the trophy. Their first step is a familiar foe.

The FA Cup is owned by Arsenal. They have the most FA Cups of any other team out there. It has been the one piece of silverware that has finally afforded Arsenal a breakthrough recently as well. A decade-long trophy drought was broken when Arsenal won the 2013/14 FA Cup and that drought was, well, further broken when they won it in again 2014/15. As such, it only makes sense that the Gunners will be eyeing the 2015/16 FA Cup as well.

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The FA Cup has finally progressed to the third round and the draws have been made and will commence January 8-11. Here are the notable ones, as provided by BBC Sport:

Arsenal vs Sunderland

Manchester United vs Sheffield United

Norwich vs Manchester City

Tottenham vs Leicester City

Exeter City vs Liverpool

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Our poor neighbors got the worst draw of them all. The Spurs will be forced to take on the high-flying Foxes of Leicester City if they hope to progress. Meanwhile Manchester United was drawn rather softly against Championship side Sheffield United. The Citizens will have no fond feelings of their draw either, as the Canaries played a very convincing game in Manchester, losing 2-1. Liverpool, too, got a kindly draw against Exeter City.

And then there is Arsenal. Arsenal will be facing the team that ended their winless streak. That team being Sam Allardyce’s Sunderland.

This is not the greatest draw in the world. Arsenal were fortunate to walk away with a 3-1 win at home. Sunderland played incredibly well against Arsenal and deserved a better result. They know that just as well as Arsenal does.

Fortunately, Arsenal will be holding down the home turf. If they did it once, they can do it again. Plus, this ‘again’ will probably involve a much healthier team that Arsenal has now. Alexis Sanchez will be back. That is reason enough to have faith. We know that if he is healthy, he will play.

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The FA Cup is not Arsenal’s highest aspiration anymore. At least it shouldn’t be. The Premier League is still a perfectly realistic goal to set. Arsenal is in second place with so many injuries and so many inconsistencies. The competition is wide open. Leicester have been absolutely outstanding, but even now, you have to wonder if this is sustainable. Even if it is, Arsenal toppled Leicester in the Foxes den. Surely they can do it again.

All that being said, the FA Cup should still hold a high place in Arsenal’s eyes.