Arsenal & Gunners loanee learn FA Cup draws

Arsenal have learned their FA Cup opponents for the fourth round, as has their only remaining loanee left in the competition.

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After eliminating Portsmouth in the third round over the weekend, Arsenal progressed to the next stage of the FA Cup ahead of Monday night’s draw.

That draw has now been held, with Arsenal receiving a home tie against Wigan Athletic. The game is due to take place during the weekend of Saturday, February 14th, but the exact schedule will only be confirmed after talks with clubs, broadcast partners, and local authorities.

Arsenal will hope the game is played on the Sunday, as they already have a Premier League match scheduled against Brentford on Thursday, February 12th.

Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Arsenal are currently set to have the subsequent midweek free as their first-place Champions League position puts them in line to skip the knockout phase play-offs.

Assuming that’s the case, the Gunners should have a week’s break before facing Tottenham Hotspur on February 22nd.

By contrast, Spurs look likely to be involved in those Champions League play-off matches, but they’ve been eliminated from the FA Cup, so they’ll also only have one match in the week building up to the derby.

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Arsenal currently have players out on loan at Braintree Town, Crawley Town, Nottingham Forest, and Shrewsbury Town, but all four clubs have already been eliminated from the FA Cup.

As a result, the only Arsenal loanee left in the competition is Reiss Nelson with Brentford, and the team received an intriguing draw away to non-league Macclesfield Town.

On the surface, you’d expect that to be a straightforward victory. But Macclesfield have already knocked out FA Cup holders Crystal Palace, so Brentford would be foolish to take their upcoming opponents lightly.

FA Cup fourth round draw in full