Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers: Squad sheets - The Guardian

Michael Appleton's eventful journey over the last three months, a spell that has already hoisted the 37-year-old from Portsmouth to Blackburn via Blackpool, now takes him to the Emirates where he will attempt to inflict Arsène Wenger's first ever home defeat at Arsenal to lower league opposition. The visitors, beaten 7-1 here last season, might hope the Gunners will be distracted by Tuesday's visit of Bayern Munich in the Champions League. But Wenger intends to select Thomas Vermaelen after recent ankle problems and will consider Jack Wilshere, with the cavalry waiting in the wings if required. Rovers will need resilience and pray that Jordan Rhodes is offered a glimpse of goal. Dominic Fifield

Venue Emirates Stadium, Saturday 3pm

Tickets Sold out

Previous meetings Arsenal 58 Blackburn 30 Draws 31

Referee Mike Dean

This season's matches 27 Y99, R4, 3.81 cards per game

Odds Arsenal 3-10 Blackburn 23-2 Draw 21-4

Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers: Probable starters in bold, contenders in light. Illustration: Graphic

Arsenal

Subs from Fabianski, Mannone, Arteta, Squillaci, Koscielny, Walcott, Podolski, Wilshere, Coquelin, Arshavin, Cazorla

Doubtful Koscielny (calf), Vermaelen (ankle), Wilshere (thigh)

Injured Gibbs (thigh, Mar)

Suspended Jenkinson (one match)

Form guide WWDWWL

Disciplinary record Y51 R3

Leading scorer Walcott 18

Blackburn

Subs from Robinson, Rekik, Henrique, Nunes, Pedersen, Williamson, Slew, Gomes, R Hanley, Bentley, Júnior

Doubtful None

Injured Dunn (calf, 23 Feb), G Hanley (hamstring, Mar), King (hamstring, Mar), Best (knee, Apr), Etuhu (knee, Apr)

Suspended None

Cup-tied Campbell, Morris

Form guide DWWWDL

Disciplinary record Y49 R0

Leading scorer Rhodes 20

Match pointers

• In Blackburn's past four visits to the Emirates they have kept one clean sheet but conceded 17 goals in the other three matches

• Arsenal are unbeaten in their past 34 FA Cup games against sides from a lower division, winning 27 and drawing the other seven

• Jordan Rhodes has scored nine goals in his past 10 appearances for Blackburn in all competitions

• This is Arsenal's sixth appearance in the fifth round since winning the FA Cup in 2005 – they have failed to progress further in three of the past five seasons

• Blackburn are yet to concede a goal in this season's competition