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
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