With their title hopes fading fast, Arsenal travel up to Hull knowing that the FA Cup may well represent their last hope of silverware this season.
A home tie with Watford awaits the victors of Tuesday’s fifth round replay and both teams may well be confident that should they come out on top they can continue their momentum through to a Wembley appearance.
Last month’s opening encounter between the two sides saw Eldin Jakupovic repel Arsenal with a string of superb saves, and the goalkeeper is likely to be among several reserve team players who are given another opportunity to start.
Will any of those fringe players take their opportunity? With both sides facing hectic fixture lists in their pursuit of success on multiple fronts it may be a chance for the less-heralded to muscle their way into their managers’ plans.
Date, time and venue
Hull welcome Arsenal to the KC Stadium for a 7pm kick-off on Tuesday 8 March, with Uefa providing dispensation for the scheduling of the game at the same time as Champions League matches.
Where and when to watch
BT Sport 1 will have televised coverage of the game but you can follow all the action as it happens with Standard Sport’s live blog.
Last five matches
Tottenham 2 Arsenal 2 (March 5)
Arsenal 1 Swansea 2 (March 2)
Manchester United 3 Arsenal 2 (February 28)
Arsenal 0 Barcelona 2 (February 23)
Arsenal 0 Hull 0 (February 20)
Team news and probable line ups
Francis Coquelin’s red card in Saturday’s north London derby draw means he joins a lengthy list of absentees that includes Petr Cech, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and long-term injury concerns Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky.
Laurent Koscielny may recover from a calf injury in time for Tuesday's game but with every remaining Premier League fixture constituting a must-win if Wenger’s side are to remain in the title hunt expect several leading first-teamers including Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez to be rested.
Steve Bruce, whose side are three points off the playoffs after defeat to Birmingham on Thursday, may well adopt much the same approach and name the likes of Jakupovic and Nick Powell.
Hull starting XI: Jakupovic, Maguire, Bruce, Davies, Elmohamady, Tymon, Meyler, Taylor, Maloney, Powell, Diomande
Arsenal starting XI: Ospina, Chambers, Mertesacker, Gabriel, Gibbs, Flamini, Elneny, Campbell, Iwobi, Walcott, Giroud
Arsene Wenger
"I must tell you that the pressure from our supporters is relentless and I’m in a good position to tell you that. We have to deal with that.
"We have to go on a run again. We play on Tuesday night an important game and then we will see if we will play in the FA Cup or the Premier League. We want to win our games."
The Gunners have won each of their last five visits to Hull in all competitions, scoring at least twice on each occasion. Alexis Sanchez has scored five goals in six starts in the FA Cup. His first goal in the competition was scored against Hull City in January 2015. The Tigers have won their last three FA Cup games at home. They also won the only previous FA Cup meeting between these sides in Hull, though this was back in 1908. Arsene Wenger's side have won their last three FA Cup games away from home. Arsenal have never lost an away FA Cup match against lower league opposition under Arsene Wenger (W11 D4), last losing out to Sheffield United in January 1996. Meanwhile, Hull are winless in 15 FA Cup games against top-flight opposition as a lower-tier side (D4 L11), last beating West Ham in February 1973. Eldin Jakupovic made 11 saves in the 0-0 draw at the Emirates - more than any keeper had made against Arsenal in a match at home this season. Arsenal have won 14 consecutive rounds of the FA Cup. The record is 16, which the Gunners jointly hold. The Tigers' last five games in all competitions have produced just two goals - one for, one against. Arsenal are winless in five games in all competitions. They've not gone six without a win since December 1998.
The Gunners have won each of their last five visits to Hull in all competitions, scoring at least twice on each occasion. Alexis Sanchez has scored five goals in six starts in the FA Cup. His first goal in the competition was scored against Hull City in January 2015. The Tigers have won their last three FA Cup games at home. They also won the only previous FA Cup meeting between these sides in Hull, though this was back in 1908. Arsene Wenger's side have won their last three FA Cup games away from home. Arsenal have never lost an away FA Cup match against lower league opposition under Arsene Wenger (W11 D4), last losing out to Sheffield United in January 1996. Meanwhile, Hull are winless in 15 FA Cup games against top-flight opposition as a lower-tier side (D4 L11), last beating West Ham in February 1973. Eldin Jakupovic made 11 saves in the 0-0 draw at the Emirates - more than any keeper had made against Arsenal in a match at home this season. Arsenal have won 14 consecutive rounds of the FA Cup. The record is 16, which the Gunners jointly hold. The Tigers' last five games in all competitions have produced just two goals - one for, one against. Arsenal are winless in five games in all competitions. They've not gone six without a win since December 1998.
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