Watford (1) 2 - 4 (2) Arsenal

Vicarage Rd, Saturday 5th January 2002. kick-off 12noon

FA Cup, round 3

Preview

• Arsenal team news
  Ray Parlour serves the first of his 2 match ban for the sending off against Newcastle (it would have been the second but became the first when the Leicester match was called off).

  It's possible that one or more of the returning long-term injuries will feature (Jeffers, Adams, Dixon). But it's also likely that Wenger will want to get the most out of Kanu and Lauren before we lose them to the African Nations Cup.

  But Lauren was ruled out of the Leicester game with an ankle injury so Luzhny may be in again with Dixon possible on the bench.

  We were expecting Stuart Taylor to continue in goal against Leicester, so the same has to apply to this game. Taylor's been doing well during Wright's absence, and Middlesbrough didn't give him many chances to make mistakes in the last game (Sol Campbell's dodgy back-pass tested him the most).

• Watford team news
  No specific news as yet. Watford have a few players with Arsenal connections. Particularly in midfield, where old-boys Paolo Vernazza and Stephen Hughes are joined by on-loan youngster David Noble.

  Our understanding is that Watford have an arrangement whereby they can buy Noble at the end of the season for next-to-nothing. We're hoping they choose not to, or that Noble refuses to go. See this newsreel piece for more. while his early performances impressed, Noble only started one game in December.

  Hughes has been unavailable through injury for a while, and his left-midfield position has been filled at times by a striker Heidar Helguson. Vialli may go for a midfielder against Arsenal though.

  This Watford fansite is anticipating the possibility of a major shake-up, following a "mad" home loss to Millwall on New Years day. Perhaps Noble will get a (surprisingly rare) start. Left-back Paul Robinson is one who's unlikely to appear against Arsenal, having been forced off through injury early in the Milwall game. Apparently, they don't have a natural replacement.

  Midfielder Micah Hyde is said to be suspended.

• UK TV/Radio coverage
  Live on Sky Sports

• See also
  • NewsReel for latest and breaking news
  • Arsenal vs Watford page for Watford links, head-to-head stats, etc
  • AFCi for their preview

Other reports

• AFCi
• Telegraph
• The Sun
• Nationwide
• OntheMinute.com
• Ananova (Wenger post-match)
• BBC Sport
• Official Watford site

• UK TV FAQ, including pubs list
• Non-UK TV FAQ, including channels, pubs lists, and country-specific info

• Arsenal Live. getting commentary on your computer, IRC, Real Audio, etc.
• Note also that often there will be an audio feed available from the opposition's website (most probably their official site).

• ArseWeb's highbury pages, including ticket info, getting to the ground, etc.
• AwayFans.co.uk. Stadium reviews and info. Maps, traffic reports, pub lists, info on disabled/wheelchair provisions, etc. Conference teams as well as Premiership and Nationwide.
• London football Arsenal page from a site focussing on info for fans from abroad wanting to get to matches (tickets, travel, accomodation, etc).
• From the Terrace. Each team's section includes a page on their ground, with directions. Premiership, Nationwide, and Scottish.
• AwayGuide.net. Directions, maps, pub guides. All Premiership and Nationwide league teams.
• Football Ground Guide. Lovely site, loads of info, pics, diagrams, etc
• Football Grounds of England. With capacities, record gates, and pictures.
• Football Grounds frenzy. Wonderful photos of football grounds, with a little info too. Everything apart from glitzy new grounds, and no Premiership ones. Might be handy for Cup games, and certainly nice to look at!
• FanZone. Information for travelling sports fans. directions, car parks, eateries, pubs, blah-de-blah....
• Our own Highbury pages for useful info for Arsenal's home games.