Cup draw offers Leeds another shot at Arsenal as Manchester rivals do battle

Twelve months ago, Simon Grayson’s men were on the verge of a major shock when they led the Gunners 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium, only for Cesc Fabregas to equalise with a dramatic injury-time penalty.

Arsenal prevailed with a classy performance in the replay at Elland Road 11 days later, but following yesterday’s draw at Wembley, the two will meet again at the same stage of the storied competition in north London.

It was one of the plum ties of the third-round draw, which is typically one of the most exciting days of the football season when minnows dream of being drawn out of the hat alongside a footballing giant.

But the tie that caught the imagination yesterday was not a romantic one pitting a non-league David against a Premier League Goliath, but one that paired two superpowers together – Manchester City and Manchester United.

Fifth and sixth out of the hat, the Premier League’s top two will meet at the Etihad Stadium in a rematch of last year’s semi-final.

City won that day and went onto lift the FA Cup in May.

The only defeat they have suffered this season on the domestic front is a 3-2 loss at the hands of United in the Community Shield at Wembley. Six weeks ago they inflicted a 6-1 hammering on their Manchester rivals at Old Trafford.

Rio Ferdinand tweeted: “3rd round FA cup game vs mancity..great game to kick off this yrs FA cup, can’t wait.”

Joining Leeds in the third-round draw are seven other Yorkshire clubs. Barnsley, Doncaster Rovers, Hull City and Middlesbrough enter the competition along with the rest of the Championship and Premier League clubs.

Of those, Barnsley have the most inviting tie, a home game with Premier League side Swansea City.

“It’s a great draw for the football purist,” said Reds manager Keith Hill whose side have won three on the trot in the Championship.

“It’s something we will all look forward to in the new year.”

Hull City have a home tie against fellow Championship side Ipswich, while Doncaster Rovers – who made a mockery of their status as the division’s bottom club on Saturday by beating leaders Southampton – host either Ryman League outfit Sutton United or League One promotion-chasers Notts County.

Middlesbrough entertain Shrewsbury Town, conquerors of Rotherham United, the only Yorkshire side in the top five divisions to lose on Saturday.

Sheffield Wednesday’s reward for defeating Aldershot is a mouthwatering tie against West Ham United.

Were the match to be played today, it would pit the team placed second in League One against the side currently second in the Championship. As it is, we will have to wait until the weekend of January 7-8 when the Hillsborough tie, and all other third-round encounters, will be played.

Sheffield United – who beat Torquay 3-2 on an emotional afternoon at Bramall Lane as the club paid tribute to their former player and manager, Gary Speed – face non-league opposition in the next round, either Salisbury of the Blue Square South or Blue Square Premier side Grimsby Town.

And Bradford City – the lowest-ranked side left from Yorkshire – will head to north London to face Championship side Watford.

Phil Parkinson’s Bantams, who face Oldham Athletic tomorrow night in the northern area semi-final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, have won five times in Cup competition already this season.

“It could have been better, we could have been given a home draw,” said Parkinson.

“But we’ll take what’s in front of us. It’s a game we can hopefully go into on the back of a number of wins in the league over Christmas, because that is where our focus has got to be.”

There is one tie for the romantics that pits non-league against Premier League opposition.

Tamworth, of the Blue Square Premier, can relish the prospect of a day out at Everton.

Manager Marcus Law admitted it will be a dream come true facing a top-flight team, while his goalkeeper Jonathan Hedge added: “It’s what dreams are made of, we’ll go there full of confidence.

“I’m a Sheffield United fan so I would have liked them or one of the two Manchester clubs but we will have to make do with Everton.”

Tottenham, third in the Premier League, host Cheltenham Town, while Chelsea are also at home, against Portsmouth in a repeat of the 2010 final which the Stamford Bridge club won.

Newcastle host Blackburn in an all-Premier League tie while Liverpool will face the winners of the replay between Southend and Oldham at Anfield. Peterborough will be looking to test Sunderland at London Road.

Posh director of football Barry Fry said: “I am absolutely delighted, it is a great draw.

“It should be a sell-out and with Martin O’Neill (new Sunderland manager) going there it gives us half a chance of being on TV.”

FA CUP THIRD ROUND DRAW

Middlesbrough v Shrewsbury

Nottingham Forest v Leicester City

Manchester City v Manchester United

Dagenham & Redbridge/Walsall v Millwall

Crawley v Bristol City

Doncaster Rovers v Sutton Utd/Notts Co

Bristol Rovers v Aston Villa

Tottenham v Cheltenham

Sheffield Wednesday v West Ham

MK Dons v QPR

Hull City v Ipswich Town

Coventry City v Southampton

Brighton & HA v Wrexham

Fulham v Charlton Athletic

Birmingham City v Wolverhampton Wand

Norwich City v Burnley

Arsenal v Leeds United

Derby County v Crystal Palace

Fleetwood/Yeovil v Blackpool

Swindon Town v Wigan Athletic

Barnsley v Swansea City

Chelmsford/Macclesfield v Bolton

Newcastle United v Blackburn Rovers

Everton v Tamworth

Sheffield United v Salisbury/Grimsby

Liverpool v Southend/Oldham

Gillingham v Stoke City

Chelsea v Portsmouth

Watford v Bradford City

Peterborough United v Sunderland

West Bromwich Albion v Cardiff City

Reading v Stevenage Borough

Ties to be played weekend of January 7-8.