Holders Arsenal start FA Cup defence against Sunderland

Arsenal's Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey attempts a shot on goal during their English Premier League match against Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium in London on December 5, 2015. PHOTO | IKIMAGES |

What you need to know:

  • Arsene Wenger's side defeated Sunderland 3-1 in the Premier League on Saturday and just 48 hours later they were paired with the Black Cats in Monday's draw for the third round.
  • There are several all-Premier League ties, with surprise leaders Leicester travelling to Tottenham.
  • Manchester City head to Norwich, Southampton entertain Crystal Palace and Watford host Newcastle.
  • Three other non-league teams feature in the draw.
  • Ties to be played between January 8 and 11

LONDON

FA Cup holders Arsenal will kick off their attempt to retain the trophy with a third round tie against Sunderland in January.

Arsene Wenger's side defeated Sunderland 3-1 in the Premier League on Saturday and just 48 hours later they were paired with the Black Cats in Monday's draw for the third round.

The Gunners, who routed Aston Villa in last year's final, will host the tie at the Emirates Stadium as they start on the road to Wembley in a bid to win the competition for a third successive year.

Elsewhere in the draw, new Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was handed a trip to fourth tier Exeter in his first taste of the competition following his recent arrival as replacement for the sacked Brendan Rodgers.

Manchester United, who haven't won the Cup since 2004, take on League One outfit Sheffield United at Old Trafford, while troubled Chelsea will host the winner of a second round replay between Leyton Orient and Scunthorpe.

There are several all-Premier League ties, with surprise leaders Leicester travelling to Tottenham.

Manchester City head to Norwich, Southampton entertain Crystal Palace and Watford host Newcastle.

Part-timers Whitehawk have been handed a possible trip to Everton if the sixth tier side get through their second round replay at home to League Two club Dagenham and Redbridge.

Three other non-league teams feature in the draw.

The lowest-ranked among them, Salford City of the seventh tier — co-owned by former Manchester United stars Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and brothers Gary and Phil Neville — will host Championship high-fliers Derby if they can get past League Two team Hartlepool in their second round replay.

Eastleigh, the only one of the non-league sides to have made it through outright, were handed a home tie against Championship strugglers Bolton, while Grimsby will travel to Cardiff if they can beat Shrewsbury.

Draw for the English FA Cup third round:

Watford v Newcastle

West Brom v Bristol City

West Ham v Wolves

Salford or Hartlepool v Derby

Exeter v Liverpool

Tottenham v Leicester

Colchester v Charlton

Peterborough v Preston

Northampton v Milton Keynes Dons

Arsenal v Sunderland

Newport v Blackburn

Ipswich v Portsmouth

Birmingham v Bournemouth

Wycombe v Aston Villa

Sheffield Wednesday v Fulham

Oxford v Swansea

Brentford v Chesterfield or Walsall

Bury v Bradford

Manchester United v Sheffield United

Everton v Dagenham or Whitehawk

Southampton v Crystal Palace

Eastleigh v Bolton

Nottingham Forest v QPR

Carlisle v Yeovil

Chelsea v Leyton Orient or Scunthorpe

Doncaster v Stoke

Leeds v Rotherham

Cardiff v Grimsby or Shrewsbury

Huddersfield v Reading

Middlesbrough v Burnley

Norwich v Manchester City

Hull v Brighton

Ties to be played between January 8 and 11