Swansea City hosted Arsenal at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday with the chance of making it three wins in a row against the Gunners.
Having beaten them on home soil last season, the Swans secured a shock 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium last month, and were hoping that they could repeat the feat in Wales.
Despite taking the lead in the match, Swansea were forced to find a late equaliser and snatch a 2-2 draw, after a quick-fire double from Arsenal had put the visitors in front.
Both sides will be now go into the hat for the fourth round of the competition, and will undergo a replay at the Emirates Stadium.
Read how it all unfolded in our minute-by minute live commentary below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of today's FA Cup fourth round clash between Swansea City and Arsenal at the Liberty Stadium.
Yesterday proved to be another unpredictable and exciting day in the competition with some terrific results taking place up and down the country. Let's hope today is the same.
It wasn't too long ago that these sides met in the Premier League, when the Swans secured a surprising 2-0 win over the Gunners at the Emirates. You can read the report HERE.
We've got team news just in...
SWANSEA CITY STARTING XI: Vorm, Tiendalli, Chico, Bartley, Davies, Britton, De Guzman, Ki, Routledge, Dyer, Graham.
ARSENAL STARTING XI: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Ramsey, Walcott, Cazorla, Giroud.
So both Michael Laudrup and Arsene Wenger field strong sides for this contest. Clearly showing how serious both clubs are taking this competition.
And on the bench for both sides...
SWANSEA CITY SUBSTITUTES: Tremmel, Rangel, Monk, Agustien, Hernandez, Michu, Shechter.
ARSENAL SUBSTITUTES: Martinez, Vermaelen, Santos, Coquelin, Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Podolski.
So Laudrup makes four changes to the Swans side who drew with Aston Villa in their last outing, with the most noticeable change being that star man and top scorer Michu is on the bench.
No doubt that, having conquered Arsenal with a brace at the Emirates last month, the Gunners will be happy about his temporary absence.
Arsene Wenger makes three changes as Per Mertesacker, Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud come in for captain Thomas Vermaelen, Lukas Podolski and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
As for what formation Arsenal are running with, I'm not sure. It could be a 4-4-2 with Giroud and Walcott up top, or a normal 4-3-3 for the Gunners with Walcott and Ramsey on the flanks.
Some quarters have been critical about Aaron Ramsey being utilised out wide, but Arsene Wenger has been talking about the positives of the position for the Welshman.
Arsene Wenger: "Its sometimes a good idea to deploy a player who has a future in the middle of the park on the flank. He gets used to using the ball in smaller space, as the touch line effectively divides the space that's available to him by two; when you move the same player to the middle, he breathes more easily and can exploit space better."
These two sides have met three times in the FA Cup before, with the most recent occasion coming in 1968.
The Gunners boast two wins to Swansea's one win in this competition.
The two teams are in the tunnel.
Martin Keown is predicting a win for his old side. Read Sports Mole's interview with him HERE.
It's worth noting that Kyle Bartley makes only his second start for Swansea since joining them in the summer. Who from I here you ask, well, Arsenal.
Both sides are out at the Liberty Stadium.
Want a video to wet your appetite? Here is the highlights from the meeting between the two sides in December.
FACT: Only Norwich City and Everton have beaten Swansea at the Liberty this season.
And we're off here.
Swansea in all-white kit, play from right to left in this first half.
Arsenal, in their purple and black away strip, shoot from left to right.
Arsenal have the first chance of the game, as Wilshere floats in a freekick, but it goes behind for a corner.
The resulting corner is cleared by Swansea, who burst own the right through Lloyd Dyer, but his cross is caught above the head of Danny Graham by Wojciech Szczesny.
Swansea now having a spell of possession.
Looks as if Walcott is on the right for Arsenal, and Ramsey is on the left.
Arsenal fans in fine voice at the Liberty, with early cries of "Ooooooh Santi Cazorla".
Danny Graham picks up the ball in an offside position, Arsenal freekick.
Wilshere tries to pick out Giroud with a long ball, but overhits it as it rolls through to Michel Vorm.
The Swans fans are very quiet here with nearly 10 minutes on the clock. The Gooners are full of beans early on.
CHANCE! Swansea break down the right again, stretching Arsenal. Nathan Dyer delivers a ball in the centre of the Gunners penalty area, but Bacary Sagna is on hand to clear it away with a diving header.
Walcott gets played in down the right, but he can only cross to an empty penalty area, as the ball goes out for a throw on the other side.
Walcott wins a freekick after being tugged by Ki.
Wilshere floats another ball into the box from 30 yards out, but Vorm screams for the ball as he comes off his line to collect it.
CHANCE! It's a chance for the home side, as Danny Graham grapples with Mertesacker from a long ball on the edge of the box, before slamming an effort towards the near post, before Szczesny flies to his left to push away the effort.
Aaron Ramsey getting booed by Swansea fans for his Cardiff connection. Arsenal fans chant: 'One Aaron Ramsey.'
Walcott wins a freekick on the right after a Chico handball.
Wilshere to curl it in on his left.
And it's an easy catch for Vorm. No Arsenal challengers, despite the height of Giroud, Koscielny and Mertesacker.
Arsenal with a nice spell of the ball at the moment, keeping it in midfield and trying to slow the game down after a spark of momentum from the Swans.
The last time the Gunners won a major trophy, was in this competition and in Wales, as they beat Manchester United at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff 5-4 on penalties.
Interestingly enough, the last time Arsenal made the visit to Wales, Swansea beat them 3-2.
Mertesacker gives the ball away on the right, as Routledge and Dyer look to take advantage, but Sagna steps in to concede the corner.
De Guzman takes the corner, but it's too long, and goes out of play on the far side.
CHANCE! Nice break for Arsenal, Arteta plays in Walcott who runs at the Swansea backline before threading it through to Giroud on the left. The Frenchman pulls it back to the edge of the box for Cazorla, who lays off Walcott, but the England international's shot is blocked. Neat move from the Gunners.
At the other end, Szczesny is out early to clear the ball before Graham can run on to it.
End-to-end stuff. Walcott is brought down by Chico, no advantage for Arsenal, as Howard Webb awards the freekick. Good position for a shot. 25 yards out, central.
Walcott, Cazorla and Arteta line this one up.
Walcott goes for it, hits it low, straight at the wall. A real waste, that was begging for one of the Spaniards to take it, even Wilshere.
We've had just over a quarter of the game gone, and Arsenal have probably just shaded it so far. A couple of chances, good contest.
Still goalless though.
Arsenal playing 'keep ball' in the Swans half here at the moment.
Arteta looks for the long pass to Giroud, but he hits it into the stands.
CHANCE! It's a brilliant move from Arsenal, as their lovely flowing football finds Ramsey in space on the left of the six-yard box. He opts to cut back on his right, but his effort is stopped by Vorm. Should have hit it first time on his left.
Swansea create an opportunity of their own, Dyer again runs down the right and delivers a decent ball towards Graham, but Szczesny is on hand to perform a Superman-esque catch.
The Swansea fans are unusually quiet at the Liberty Stadium. It's the boys from the Capital you can hear at the moment.
Swansea desperately trying to create a clear opportunity, but just keeping hold of the ball for now.
Half chance for Swansea, the ball flies from the left to Nathan Dyer on the far side of the box. He brings it down and tries to shoot but his effort is blocked. The ball falls to De Guzman, but his first touch is too heavy, and Gibbs can shield the ball out for an Arsenal goalkick.
CHANCE! Nice move again from Arsenal, who have numbers forward. The ball ends up with Gibbs on the left, who plays it back to Cazorla on the edge of the box, but the latter fails to keep his shot down and it flies over the bar. Should have done a lot better there.
YELLOW CARD Aaron Ramsey becomes the first player to go into Howard Webb's notebook today, as he clips Tiendalli from behind.
OFF THE BAR De Guzman floats in the freekick deep into the box, and it is met by a powerful Kyle Bartley header that crashes onto the top of the crossbar, very nearly giving his side the lead against his former employers.
Arsenal need to make the most of their chances otherwise they'll be punished, which is very nearly what happened just then.
Swansea have the momentum and have a couple of half-chances, but Arsenal do enough to scramble it away after Gibbs beats Dyer in the air.
The Gunners have clearly been on top in this half, but are living dangerously, with Swansea powering forward on the break.
The hosts have upped their game over the last few minutes, and are enjoying a nice spell of possession in the Gunners half.
Chico brilliant dispossesses Theo Walcott, as the forward bares down on the Swans goal. Tempo upped at the Liberty, home fans lifted.
Wilshere brilliant wins the ball before cleverly winning a freekick off Ki. Plays the pass and takes the hit, Arsenal ball on the halfway line.
Walcott seems to be playing far more central than Olivier Giroud, who is isolated out on the left, which seems very bizzare as the Gunners insists on pumping high balls forward at times.
CHANCE! Arteta pings a pass into the feet of Cazorla on the edge of the box, the latter's first touch lets him down and forces him into taking an early shot on the turn which is easy enough for Vorm.
Arsenal desperately need a goal. They seem in the sort of mood that if they go behind, they won't come back.
Arteta plays a poor pass out wide towards Sagna which goes out of play, when he had three players free to his left. Rubbish from the skipper.
HALF-TIME: Swansea City 0-0 Arsenal
And with that, there goes the whistle. Arsenal have been the better side in the first half, and have had the majority of the chances. However, they have failed to really test Michel Vorm in the Swansea goal, and need to make the most of their opportunities.
Swansea have certainly not been outplayed though, and always look formidable on the break. Danny Graham forced Wojciech Szczesny into a good save early on, before Kyle Bartley headed Jonathan de Guzman's freekick against the crossbar.
However, neither side has managed to find the back of the net, and we go into the break goalless. It will be interesting to see if either manager changes anything. Arsenal need to make the most of Giroud and move him into the middle, while Swansea do have Michu on the bench.
The Gunners seem to lack energy in the top half of the field. Swansea just need to try and dictate the play and get a firm hold of the ball.
The teams are back on the field.
Swansea get us underway in this second half. They shoot from left to right. Arsenal from right to left.
Arsenal have the ball at the moment, just keeping it in possession.
Gibbs hooks in a cross on the left, but Vorm catches the ball very comfortably.
Arsenal back in possession though.
CHANCE! Arsenal work the ball forward, it rebounds to them on the right and is hooked into Giroud, he can't get the ball right out of his feet though and spoons an effort wide of the right post. Should have done better there.
CHANCE! Nearly a nightmare for De Guzman, who slices his clearance up but not away. It drops to Ramsey who forces his way into the penalty area, but a last-gasp tackle from Britton does enough to allow Vorm to collect the ball.
CHANCE! Arsenal counter from a Swansea attack. Cazorla plays it into the path of Walcott who is in a 2-on-2 situation. He squares it to Giroud who slams an effort at goal, but it's straight down the throat of Vorm.
Arsenal fans are furious as Aaron Ramsey goes down in the penalty area under a challenge. Howard Webb opts to give nothing.
Looks as if Ramsey clipped his own heels for that penalty shout.
CHANCE! The ball breaks to Giroud, who shoots at goal once more but it's blocked and out of play.
CHANCE! Arsenal have suddenly put their foot on the accelerator, as Giroud acrobatically slams an effort at goal from the edge of the box. He does ever so well to pull of the shot, and Vorm does just enough to make the save. Giroud is down in pain now though.
It looks as if Michael Laudrup is soon to make a few changes, Michu is coming on.
Meanwhile, Giroud is limping off the field.
SUBSTITUTIONS Wayne Routledge and Jonathan de Guzman make way for Pablo Hernandez and Michu.
Michu met with chants of 'Miguel Michu, he scores when he wants'.
GOAL! Swansea City 1-0 Arsenal (Michu)
Unbelievable. He has been on the field for a matter of seconds, but Michu has already given Swansea the lead. He gets the ball in the middle of the field, plays it over the head of Mertesacker, before racing through on goal, and cooly slots the ball past Szczesny into the back of the net.
What a signing Michu has been, his 15th goal of the season.
How will Arsenal respond? They have dominated the second half, but Michu has made them pay.
Arsenal need to keep their cool and composure, but Swansea have the momentum at the moment.
Swansea are awarded a free kick as Sagna is guilty of a high foot. Ki delivers the ball on the edge of the box but Arsenal can clear.
Arsenal break well down the left, as Gibbs makes his way into the penalty area, but Tiendalli comes across to makes a superb late challenge.
CHANCE! Swansea move forward through Michu, before playing the ball back to Danny Graham, who lays off Pablo Hernandez but the Spaniard's cross is held by Szczesny.
CHANCE! Aaron Ramsey turns by the corner flag and delivers a fantastic cross for Olivier Giroud, but the Frenchman heads wide. He really should have at least hit the target, that's disappointing from the big man.
CHANCE! Nice build-up from Arsenal, as Jack Wilshere starts and finishes a nice passing interchange, but he wildly drags his effort his wide of the far post.
Arsenal are once again on top, playing the better football, but they need to take one of these chances.
It's clear how Swansea are lining up at the moment. They have 10 men behind the ball, and will look to counter-attack at any given opportunity.
SUBSTITUTION Swansea make their third and final change, as Leon Britton is replaced by Kemy Agustien.
Michel Vorm has been given the captain's armband now, as Leon Britton goes off the field.
Arsene Wenger is yet to make a change, and he has Lukas Podolski, Tomas Rosicky and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all on the bench. I wonder how long it will be before we see them.
And as I say that, Podolski is getting ready to come on.
Swansea are going past Arsenal players at times as if they are not there. The Gunners have to press better.
SUBSTITUTION Aaron Ramsey comes off, as Lukas Podolski makes his FA Cup debut for Arsenal.
Time is ticking for the Gunners. They have had most of the ball, but need to find the back of the net with it. Lacking a final ball at the moment.
CHANCE! How Arsenal are not level I will never know. They take two bites of the cherry, as Cazorla fails to pass it early which resulted in Giroud being dispossessed, before a Swansea error leads to Walcott shooting across goal but wide of the far post.
It's all Arsenal.
As things stand, Arsenal will be knocked out of the third round of the FA Cup for the first time in 17 years.
Podolski is ruled offside as he finds himself free on the edge of the six-yard box. He may have been offside, but the German still inexplicably missed the chance.
I predict a tense finish at the Liberty.
YELLOW CARD Kyle Bartley goes into the book for a lunge on the edge of the box on Wilshere. Freekick to Arsenal right on the edge of the penalty area.
It looks too close for Arsenal to get the ball up and down.
Cazorla blasts the ball into the wall, not once but twice. Arsenal corner.
GOAL! Swansea City 1-1 Arsenal (Lukas Podolski)
Finally, finally, finally, Arsenal are level. Walcott overhits the corner, and Sagna heads the ball to the edge of the box. Koscielny prods the ball back into the danger zone, and on the swivel, Podolski slams the ball into the far corner. Great finish.
Game on!
Can either side find a winner? The goal is no more than what Arsenal deserve.
GOAL! Swansea City 1-2 Arsenal (Kieran Gibbs)
Wow. What a turnaround here, and what a goal from Kieran Gibbs. He picks the ball up on the left and plays a pass to Olivier Giroud on the edge of a crowded penalty area. He dinks a perfect ball back over the top to Gibbs, who continued his run, before hammering the volley past Michel Vorm. Amazing stuff.
Arsenal are deservedly in front.
CHANCE! It's hard to keep up with things here at the Liberty. Ki forces a strong save from Szczesny before Nathan Dyer has a shot go behind for a corner.
GOAL! Swansea City 2-2 Arsenal (Danny Graham)
Amazing, the corner is hit to the far post, and Arsenal haven't picked anyone up. The ball falls to Danny Graham on the edge of the six-yard box, and he curls a powerful shot into the roof of the net. Shocking marking from the Gunners, great finish from Graham.
The ball is in the back of the net at the other end, as Walcott races onto a pass to chip the ball over the head of Vorm and into the back of the net, but he had already conceded a freekick.
Excuse me while I catch my breath.
Arsenal have a corner in the final minute.
CHANCE! Koscielny comes close not once but twice. His header is stopped by Vorm before he volleys over the bar. Not sure Vorm knew much about the save.
Five minutes of added time.
CHANCE! Swansea should be in front. The ball breaks to the right of the Arsenal box where Swansea have three players unmarked. However, Agustien gets caught in two minds and curls an effort into the sidenetting. Huge let off for Arsenal.
Boy this is nervy stuff.
Swansea trying to create an opportunity, but Koscielny defended well to clear.
Wilshere is so close to finding Walcott with a fizzed pass into the box, but it is just cut out by Chico.
Szczesny comfortably catches a poor cross. Last chance for Arsenal now perhaps.
Last chance for Arsenal as they are awarded a free kick out wide.
Walcott with a decent delivery, but Vorm catches.
FULL TIME: Swansea City 2-2 Arsenal
Wow, what an entertaining game at the Liberty Stadium. Three goals in the last 10 minutes means that these two sides will have to slug it out all over again at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal didn't deserve to lose that and controlled most of the match, but Swansea always looked capable of a goal. Having done so well to get themselves back in the game and ahead, Arsenal will be kicking themselves after allowing the Swans to force a replay.
But in the end, it was a cracking game. Swansea played some super stuff, with Michu making an immediate impact but Arsenal's spirit and great goals through Lukas Podolski and Kieran Gibbs saved them.
Well that is all from me here this afternoon. What a thrilling cup tie we witnessed. You can read Liam Apicella's full-time report HERE. See you again soon. Take care.
Written by
Matt Cotton
Matt Cotton
