The FA Cup was always likely to throw up a tasty fixture as we enter the traditional competition at its 3rd round stage – however nobody predicted that perhaps the biggest derby in the English game would come out of the hat.
The 53rd ball to be picked out by former England striker Teddy Sheringham was Arsenal, followed in 54th place by North London rivals Spurs to set up what will be the second North London Derby of the season on the 4th or 5th of January.
Having beaten Spurs at home back in September – and topping the Premiership table since – Arsenal will be in pole position to progress through to the next round. And being the first of the two names picked out by Sheringham, the Gunners will have the advantage of playing in front of a buzzing home crowd.
There was a mixed – wary – reaction to the draw on Twitter, as Arsenal fans came to terms with the epic battle that awaits just after New Year…
@GoonerboyBlog “spurs at home in the cup - should be fun, but it would have been nice to have had a chance to rotate the team if gotten lower league oppo”
@RossMcNulty “We drew Tottenham in the cup? Lool spurs are cryinggg”
@mattgreen14 “Spurs in the cup? That should be a good one! Definitely not going to miss that game #PencilledItIn”
@rickycasey99 “Spurs in the cup?! For f*cks sake”
@joepyne11 “So we have spurs in the cup #easy #couldbeworse”
@DSSFootball “Bendtner hat trick vs Spurs in the cup.”
@matt1taylor “Can't say I'm overjoyed at getting Spurs in the cup... Another big game in a busy period.”
@davidpattison “Love getting spurs at home in the cup #5-2”
@campshf “Arsenal draw Spurs at home in the cup. Need to get our annual 5-2 in #afc”
@marioallen2010 “Spurs at home. Great tie, would have liked it a bit further in to the cup.”
@Frasersw5 “Spurs in the cup... I wanted carlise or something”
@TheDanAlden “Spurs in the cup! Hahaha at home as well quality”
@Flannyballs “5 - 2 = 3 (Arsenal have Spurs in the third round of the cup).”
@willowkiller “Arsenal play Spurs in the Cup.. Will Wenger care. I think not”
@LicenceToPhil “Spurs in the cup? F*ck you Sheringhams!!!!! I wanted an easier tie!”
@DanGodfrey27 “Spurs in the cup. Happy that we have a derby; annoyed that we have another unnecessary big game in the middle of our league matches #AFC”
@_andyshannon “What a draw in the cup! Spurs are in for a good beating with their sideways football.. #mindthegap”
Mixed reaction. But what a fixture.
COYG!
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