Arsenal are bidding to become the first team since Blackburn in 1884-86 to win the FA Cup in three straight years, and to extend their record-setting haul of FA Cup titles to 13.
With his team having its best chance in years to win the Premier League, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger must decide whether to rotate his squad against Sunderland.
Striker Alexis Sanchez will be absent on Saturday as a precautionary measure, manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed.
The Chilean has been sidelined for more than a month after picking up a hamstring injury against Norwich City on November 29.
He was expected to return to the side before Christmas but suffered a setback that delayed his recovery, and Wenger is unwilling to risk him given that Arsenal have key Premier League fixtures against Liverpool and Stoke City next week.
The Gunners are two points clear at the top of the Premier League table ahead of Leicester City and Wenger is also keen to win the FA Cup for a record third time in a row.
UNITED'S RIPOSTE
Manchester United stemmed the crisis swirling around their manager, Louis van Gaal, by beating Swansea last weekend to end a winless run of eight games, but losing to third-tier club Sheffield United would put the Dutchman under fresh scrutiny.
Sheffield United have been a cup specialist in recent years, reaching the League Cup semifinals last season and the FA Cup semifinals in 2014.
POTENTIAL UPSETS
The potential for so-called "giant killings" in the third round isn't as big as in many previous years.
But Everton will be wary when they hosts fourth-tier club Dagenham and Redbridge, as will Stoke on their trip to third-tier club Doncaster and Aston Villa when they visits fourth-tier team Wycombe.
Villa are facing relegation after winning only once in 20 Premier League games this season, so the FA Cup will come as a respite.
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