9 Dec 2013

Arsenal to play Spurs in FA Cup third round

11:11 am on 9 December 2013

English Premier League football leaders Arsenal will host north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the standout tie of the FA Cup third round following Monday's draw.

Struggling Manchester United, the 11-times Cup winners, will be at home to fellow Premier League side Swansea City, Chelsea go to Championship side Derby County and Manchester City, beaten finalists last season, visit Blackburn Rovers, another Championship team.

Wigan Athletic, who surprisingly beat City in the final in May before being relegated from the top flight, begin their defence against third tier MK Dons.

There will be three other all-Premier League ties in the third round, played in the first week of January, as teams from the top flight and Championship enter the competition.

Norwich City host Fulham, Newcastle United play Cardiff City and West Bromwich Albion meet Crystal Palace.

Arsenal and Tottenham have not met in the world's oldest domestic Cup competition since the Gunners beat Spurs in the 2001 semi-final.