Solihull Moors have been handed a dream FA Cup third round draw against Premier League aristocrats Arsenal if they can get past Blackpool.
The National League outfit, who drew 0-0 with the League One Tangerines in the second round on Friday night, have been given the best possible incentive as they prepare for the replay.
Speaking minutes after the draw on Monday evening, sporting director Mark Fogarty told BBC1: “We’re just delighted, really, delighted. Regardless of even whether we get past Blackpool just to be called out alongside Arsenal is just fantastic.”
Asked if the tantalising prospect of the Gunners heading for the Automated Technology Group Stadium piled on the pressure, Fogarty added: “Possibly, but our unit, our team are very strong-minded anyway and I don’t think Tim Flowers will allow them to get like that. I will, but I’m not sure he will.
“I’m delighted and excited, but he will have them all in their place and we have got a job to do first.”
National League North Southport too have an enticing prospect in line if they can get past League Two Tranmere with Arsenal’s North London rivals Tottenham drawn to face the winners.
Leicester, Premier League champions in 2016, will travel to either National League Wrexham or Newport of League Two, while Watford are also on the road at National League South Woking.
However, there are home ties for Manchester United against Reading, Manchester City against Rotherham, Chelsea against Nottingham Forest and Newcastle against Blackburn.
Everton also avoided a trip away after being drawn to face League Two Lincoln, who reached the quarter-finals as a National League club two seasons ago, at Goodison Park.
Imps director David Lowes said: “That’s a great draw, isn’t it? Our chairman, Clive Nates, actually Everton is his second team, so he’ll be quite pleased with that as well, I’d suggest. But we’ll go there and we’ll give it a go.”
There are two all-Premier League ties with promoted Wolves hosting high-flying Liverpool, while Bournemouth and Brighton will clash on the south coast.
Cardiff face a trip to Gillingham, Crystal Palace will welcome Grimsby to Selhurst Park while managerless Southampton travel to Sky Bet Championship Derby and Huddersfield head for Bristol City.
Bottom-of-the-table Fulham entertain League Two Oldham, while West Ham will play Birmingham at the London Stadium and Burnley take on Barnsley at Turf Moor.
Elsewhere, Leeds travel to QPR, Sheffield United host Barnet and city rivals Sheffield Wednesday welcome Luton to Hillsborough, and West Brom entertain Wigan, Middlesbrough play Peterborough or Bradford and Swansea head for Aston Villa.
Either Walsall or Sunderland will make the trip to Bolton, Hull head for Millwall and Brentford will play host to Oxford.
Preston welcome Oxford to Deepdale, Ipswich head north to Accrington, Shrewsbury entertain Stoke and Portsmouth travel to Norwich, while Fleetwood are at home to AFC Wimbledon after seeing off National League North Guiseley. PA
Re-live the draw:
2 Arsenal
3 Aston Villa
4 Birmingham City
5 Blackburn Rovers
6 Bolton Wanderers
7 Brentford
8 Brighton & Hove Albion
9 Bristol City
10 Burnley
11 Cardiff City
12 Chelsea
13 Crystal Palace
14 Derby County
15 Everton
16 Fulham
17 Huddersfield Town
18 Hull City
19 Ipswich Town
20 Leeds United
21 Leicester City
22 Liverpool
23 Manchester City
24 Manchester United
25 Middlesbrough
26 Millwall
27 Newcastle United
28 Norwich City
29 Nottingham Forest
30 Preston North End
31 Queens Park Rangers
32 Reading
33 Rotherham United
34 Sheffield United
35 Sheffield Wednesday
36 Southampton
37 Stoke City
38 Swansea City
39 Tottenham Hotspur
40 Watford
41 West Bromwich Albion
42 West Ham United
43 Wigan Athletic
44 Wolverhampton Wanderers
45 Guiseley or Fleetwood Town
46 Luton Town
47 Wrexham or Newport County
48 Tranmere Rovers or Southport
49 Barnsley
50 Shrewsbury Town
51 Solihull Moors or Blackpool
52 Grimsby Town
53 Peterborough United or Bradford City
54 Woking
55 Oldham Athletic
56 Lincoln City
57 AFC Wimbledon
58 Oxford United
59 Barnet
60 Portsmouth
61 Walsall or Sunderland
62 Accrington Stanley
63 Doncaster Rovers
64 Gillingham
