After a wait that has felt like an eternity, Cardiff will finally travel to London to take on Arsenal in an F.A. Cup fourth round replay, after the game was called off nearly two weeks ago due to the weather. City will go to the Emirates with no fear after competing admirably with the Gunners in the first game at Ninian Park, Simon Glanville previews the game.
Cardiff team news: Tom Heaton will start in goal at the Emirates following Peter Enckelman's knee injury, which is likely to keep him out of action for two months.
Dimi Konstantopolous has been brought in from Coventry as cover, but he is unable to play after featuring for Swansea in Round Four. He is also out of contention along with Michael Chora and Quincy Owusu-Abeyie as all three were at other clubs for the first match at Ninian Park.
Cardiff have gone more than fortnight without a game, but that has allowed Peter Whittingham and Gabor Gyepes to recover from injury. Stephen McPhail will miss out though after injuring himself in a behind closes doors games in midweek.
Arsenal team news: Former Bluebird Aaron Ramsey is likely to be among a number of absentees for the hosts. The teenage sensation strained knee ligaments while playing for Wales in midweek, and is unlikely to be risked by Arsene Wenger.
Emmaunuel Eboue misses out through suspension, while Abou Diaby (thigh), Emmanuel Adebayor (hamstring), Cesc Fabregas (knee), Theo Walcott (shoulder) and Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) are all out.
Wenger does have Eduardo available after the Croatian returned for his country in midweek following a lengthy spell on the sidelines, but new signing Andrei Arshavin is ineligible, having not been registered before the first meeting at Ninian Park.
Arsenal's season so far: The F.A. Cup remains Arsenal's best chance for winning a trophy this season following a disappointing league campaign.
With Aston Villa going so well in the Premier League, this could be the season that the 'Big Four' are broken up, and it looks like Arsenal will be the ones to miss out should Villa finish above them.
The Gunners sit in fifth and are five points fourth place Chelsea, meaning they may miss out on Champions League qualification for the first time since 1999. They are still in Europe's elite competition this season, but are not among the favourites to go all the way.
Last meeting: It was nearly three weeks ago that we met the Gunners at Ninian Park, where Cardiff shaded a game which had few chances. Playing Wenger's side was a massive treat for the Bluebirds faithful, but the boys on the pitch didn't show them too much respect as City were the better side in the opening 45 minutes. Arsenal did improve after the break, but nobody could argue that Cardiff don't deserve another bite at the cherry on in the replay.
Teams from last meeting at Ninian Park on 25th January2009:
Bluebirds: Enckelman, McNaughton, Gyepes, Roger Johnson, Kennedy, Rae, Parry, Ledley, Burke (Capaldi 79), Bothroyd, McCormack. Subs not used: Heaton, Purse, McPhail, Comminges, Blake.
Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Toure, Djourou, Gibbs, Nasri, Ramsey (Diaby 59), Song Billong, Eboue (Adebayor 66), Van Persie, Bendtner (Wilshere 87). Subs not used: Almunia, Gallas, Vela, Denilson.
Attendance: 20,079.
Arsenal last time out: The Gunners failed to take the chance to catch up on the top for after they were held by a Robbie Keane inspired Tottenham at White Hart Lane. In a keenly contested derby, neither side could fine the breakthrough in a game of few chances. Emmanuel Eboue saw red for the Gunners which made their task even harder.
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy (Gibbs 87), Eboue, Song Billong, Denilson, Nasri, Adebayor (Bendtner 38), Van Persie. Subs not used: Fabianski, Eduardo, Ramsey, Djourou, Arshavin.
