Not long now…
For those not watching The One Show, they are currently taking us through how and why potholes are created. I wanted to mock the feature but it’s actually fairly interesting. There’s also a Gandalf look-a-like discussing black ice. It’s all happening tonight folks!
The starting XI
Well you’ll know that we have our final fourth-round clash taking place this evening. Arsenal travel to Bournemouth, who tend to struggle in this competition.
Bournemouth XI: Travers, Smith, S Cook, Ake, Simpson, Fraser, L Cook, Gosling, Surman, H Wilson, Solanke.
Subs: Ramsdale, Francis, C Wilson, Billing, Surridge, Dobre, Genesini.
Arsenal XI: Martinez, Bellerin, Mustafi, Sokratis, Saka, Guendouzi, Xhaka, Pepe, Willock, Martinelli, Nketiah.
Subs: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Holding, Torreira, Ceballos, Ozil, Lacazette.
Cliches
So I’m obviously contractually obliged to deliver the FA Cup cliches before tonight’s fifth-round draw.
The first is to inform you of tonight’s ball numbers – why I have absolutely no idea. Presumably so you know the draw a split-second before the presenter. All of those can be found at the bottom of this page.
The second is the lowest ranked side, which is another fascination reporters love to discuss.
Portsmouth, who are eighth in League One, are the lowest ranked of the teams. However, League Two side Northampton are still in the draw after earning a replay against Derby.
What’s the plan?
I’m glad you asked.
The fifth-round draw will take place this evening (obviously) and will take place at exactly 7.19pm on BBC One’s The One Show.
Now that is obviously a crafty way of subjecting every sane-minded person to watch the programme.
But I’ll be tuning in at the precise minute to avoid Matt Baker and Alex Jones (not THAT one) discussing the ways Feng shui will transform your life…
FA Cup draw ball numbers
1 Manchester United, 2 Chelsea, 3 Southampton or Tottenham Hotspur, 4 Sheffield Wednesday
5 AFC Bournemouth of Arsenal, 6 Northampton Town or Derby County, 7 Leicester City, 8 Sheffield United
9 Reading or Cardiff City, 10 West Bromwich Albion, 11 Norwich City, 12 Coventry City or Birmingham City
13 Manchester City, 14 Newcastle United or Oxford United, 15 Portsmouth, 16 Shrewsbury Town or Liverpool
