Arsenal 3-1 Sunderland: FA Cup third round as it happened

That is all from this particular live blog, but click here to follow IBTimes UK's live coverage from Old Trafford as Manchester United welcome League One play-off hopefuls Sheffield United.

We will also be back tomorrow to update you on Chelsea vs Scunthorpe and Leicester's trip to Tottenham.

It wasn't all plain sailing for Arsenal early on, but they continue their quest for a third straight FA Cup success and have still not lost a third-round tie since January 1996. Although they lacked tempo at times, there were several positives for the holders including two impressive assists from Bellerin and a lively showing from young Iwobi. The Gunners travel to Liverpool in the Premier League on Wednesday.

As for Sunderland, seven changes to the side that beat Aston Villa last weekend suggests they are prioritising their battle against relegation over a cup run and who can blame them? Lens' goal was very-well struck to beat Cech at his near post and Watmore certainly showed glimpses of quality. Pickford also looked assured with several good stops on his Black Cats debut.

Full-time

Arsenal 3-1 Sunderland

A late chance for Sunderland as the impressive Watmore is felled by Koscielny on the edge of the Arsenal penalty area. Van Aanholt's effort is struck with venom but Cech does well to hold it.

Three minutes of added time to be played. M'Vila tries to release Lens with a low through ball but it's easily intercepted.

Sunderland fail to capitalise on a corner and this game is rather petering out to its inevitable conclusion now.

Ramsey cuts in from the right and carries the ball for several seconds before releasing a very tame shot that is easily dealt with by the visiting goalkeeper. Three minutes plus stoppage time left for Sunderland to mount an unlikely comeback.

Gibbs has provided a very useful attacking outlet for Arsenal today and his latest cross finds the head of Giroud, but Pickford makes a fingertip save to divert the ball over.

Both teams have made a final change each, with Reine-Adelaide on for Campbell and Charis Mavrias replacing Fletcher.

Further action at both ends as Giroud is denied what looked like a clear penalty as he tumbles under the heavy challenge of Yedlin.

Moments later, Lens strides forward unchecked before releasing Graham, but his right-footed drive is turned behind by Cech. Is there life in Sunderland yet?

Ruthless from the holders and a second goal in quick succession surely secures their place in round four.

Once again Bellerin is the provider, the Spanish full-back collecting Oxlade-Chamberlain's brilliant pass before racing down the right flank. Taking on Van Aanholt, he then supplies a fantastic low pass for Giroud to finish beyond Yedlin and Pickford at the back post.

Goal: Arsenal 3-1 Sunderland (Olivier Giroud)

With 20 minutes remaining, Arsenal lead for the first time. Attacking with menace down the right, Bellerin exchanges passes with Campbell. He then squares the ball back for Ramsey, who opens up his body to finish well from close range.

Goal: Arsenal 2-1 Sunderland (Aaron Ramsey)

Jones has taken the Sunderland captain's armband following the withdraw of O'Shea. Koscielny remains Arsenal skipper, meanwhile, despite the introduction of Arteta.

Gibbs is the architect once more for the home side as he picks out Walcott with a low cross but the latter's right-footed effort is insipid and easily stopped by Pickford.

Gibbs provides a really dangerous first-time cross towards Giroud at the front post. He makes a slight contact, but Pickford gets down to save.

A double change for Arsenal now. Ramsey and Arteta come on as Iwobi and Chambers are withdrawn.

Allardyce's second change is a defensive one as captain O'Shea is withdrawn and replaced by Billy Jones. Not sure if that is a tactical decision or if the experienced centre-back has picked up a knock.

Sunderland will have one eye on their Premier League trip to Swansea on Wednesday.

This game is seriously opening up now as Campbell plays a neat one-two with Walcott before being denied by the onrushing Pickford. Confident goalkeeping from the 21-year-old on his Sunderland debut.

A real chance for Sunderland goes begging as Yedlin breaks down the right, beats Giroud with a slice of good fortune and produces a brilliant cross that Fletcher heads against the crossbar with Cech beaten.

The ball then breaks to Watmore, but his volley is lashed over.

Sunderland make the first substitution of the afternoon as Yann M'Vila replaces Cattermole.

How have Arsenal not scored?

Oxlade-Chamberlain works space on the edge of the box and curls in a right-footed effort that smacks against the post. Walcott then turns the rebound wide from close range as Allardyce breathes a huge sigh of relief.

Agonisingly close to a second goal for Campbell but Tottenham loanee Yedlin recovers to clear off the line before Pickford can smother.

Sustained pressure from Arsenal now as they win a couple of corners and continue to put crosses into the box. Sunderland remain solid, however, with the likes of John O'Shea and Graham heading clear.

The hosts will need to be cleverer than this, you feel.

Arsenal win a free-kick in a dangerous position over on the right. Campbell's low delivery is punched clear by Pickford, but the Costa Rica international keeps the ball in play and produces another cross towards Koscielny.

Although the centre-back looks set up for a perfect volley, he decides to leave it for Oxlade-Chamberlain and that allows Sunderland to hack clear.

The second half is now up and running. No changes from either Wenger or Allardyce at the break.

Here are the rest of the half-time scores from the FA Cup third round:

Arsenal 1-1 Sunderland

Birmingham City 1-1 Bournemouth

Brentford 0-1 Walsall

Bury 0-0 Bradford City

Colchester United 2-0 Charlton Athletic

Doncaster Rovers 1-1 Stoke City

Eastleigh 0-0 Bolton Wanderers

Everton 1-0 Dagenham and Redbridge

Hartlepool United 0-0 Derby County

Huddersfield Town 0-0 Reading

Hull City 1-0 Brighton and Hove Albion

Ipswich Town 0-0 Portsmouth

Leeds United 1-0 Rotherham United

Middlesbrough 1-1 Burnley

Northampton Town 0-1 MK Dons

Norwich City 0-2 Manchester City

Nottingham Forest 1-0 Queens Park Rangers

Peterborough United 1-0 Preston North End

Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Fulham

Southampton 0-1 Crystal Palace

Watford 1-0 Newcastle United

West Bromwich Albion 0-0 Bristol City

West Ham United 0-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Not the most enthralling first half by any means, but you sense that this tie is there for the taking for Arsenal if they successfully crank up the tempo after half-time.

Sunderland made a confident start and it was tireless play from Lens to dispossess Koscielny and net the opening goal, but they have offered next to nothing in attack since aside from one or two promising Watmore runs.

Campbell has not made much of a impression during his Arsenal career to date, but his equaliser was a skillful and composed finish that would have been very easy to miss.

Half-time

Arsenal 1-1 Sunderland

Positive play from Campbell in the Sunderland penalty area, but Oxlade-Chamberlain hesitates and his shot is blocked. Arsenal keep the attack alive before Iwobi prods an effort comfortably wide.

Three minutes of added time signalled by the fourth official.

Oxlade-Chamberlain and Gibbs combine to good effect down the left-hand side and the latter forces a corner out of Van Aanholt. Sunderland survive.

Arsenal pressing high up the pitch as Iwobi puts Fletcher under all sorts of pressure before giving away the free-kick. Like Watmore for the visitors, he has looked lively.

21-year-old Watmore looks impressive for Sunderland. He comes forward again, but Lens can't divert his cross into the path of Danny Graham. Still 1-1.

Calum Chambers wins another corner for Arsenal. The makeshift defensive midfielder then gets his head to the delivery but it's well off-target and Pickford can gather the loose ball.

Seven minutes plus stoppage time remaining before half-time.

A short break in play as Fletcher receives attention for an accidental blow to the head from Iwobi. It looks like he will be fine to continue.

Watmore shrugs off a poor attempted tackle from Campbell and sets off down the Sunderland left, winning a corner after a well-timed sliding challenge from Hector Bellerin. From the corner, the ball ends up with Lee Cattermole on the edge of the box but his ambitious shot flies well over the crossbar.

A brief sight of goal for Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain, but he pulls his shot wide of Pickford's left-hand post. Arsenal beginning to take full control of proceedings now.

Arsenal were behind for just eight minutes before notching an equaliser. Iwobi carries the ball forward with real purpose, eventually releasing Walcott down the left flank.

The England forward then takes on Van Aanholt and stands the ball up towards the back post, where Campbell arrives at the perfect time to slot home with a well-taken left-footed finish. That's his third goal for the Gunners.

Goal: Arsenal 1-1 Sunderland (Joel Campbell)

Wonderful play from Iwobi to glide past the Sunderland defence and force a low shot from a difficult angle that is deflected wide by Coates.

The resulting corner comes to nothing, although Gabriel requires some treatment following a collision with Fletcher.

Sunderland have shown glimpses of attacking endeavour in the opening 16 minutes and they get their reward as Lens gives them an early lead.

After Gibbs dispossesses Duncan Watmore on the edge of the Arsenal penalty area, he then plays a poor pass to Laurent Koscielny. The French defender tries to get the ball out of his feet with a trick but he is quickly caught in possession by Lens, who proceeds to lash an excellent effort past Cech at the near post.

Goal: Arsenal 0-1 Sunderland (Jeremain Lens)

Sounds like it's been something of a quiet start, with Pickford forced into saving Gibbs' effort following a useful through ball from Giroud.

Apologies for the lack of updates in the early stages. We are having one or two technological problems here at IBT Towers that should hopefully be resolved shortly.

We are now underway. Sunderland lost 3-1 on their last visit to the Emirates in December, with Giroud scoring at both ends in addition to goals from Campbell and Ramsey.

Just minutes away from kick-off now in north London. Martin Atkinson is your man in the middle.

News of one postponement from South Wales...

Although Premier League leaders Arsenal are seeking to become the first team since Blackburn in 1886 to win the FA Cup in three successive years, their opponents can be forgiven for having other priorities. Despite that win over rock-bottom Villa, Sunderland remain four points adrift of top-flight safety.

Younes Kaboul, Adam Matthews and Sebastian Larsson are Sam Allardyce's only absentees through injury today. The Black Cats signed German centre-back Jan Kirchhoff from Bayern Munich this week, but he is not yet cleared to make his debut in English football.

Ozil has been handed the afternoon off by Wenger, although the likes of Monreal and Ramsey are retained in the matchday squad just in case. Striker Chris Willock joins fellow youngsters Jeff Reine-Adelaide and Matt Macey on the bench.

Alexis Sanchez remains absent for the Gunners as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury picked up against Norwich in November. Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin are both out with respective knee problems, while Tomas Rosicky is expected to return to first-team training next week after a lengthy lay-off.

Club captain Mikel Arteta is named as a substitute today after featuring for 45 minutes of an U21 win over Blackburn in midweek. Academy graduate Alex Iwobi, nephew of Nigerian footballing legend Jay-Jay Okocha, makes his second start of the season.

Jack Wilshere is still sidelined with a fractured left fibula and Danny Welbeck isn't set to make his comeback from a long-standing knee issue until at least mid-February.

David Ospina will be disappointed to miss out today with what the club have labelled as a "slight groin problem".

The Colombian international goalkeeper had looked set to replace Petr Cech and make his first start since scoring that calamitous own goal during the 3-2 Champions League defeat to Olympiacos in September.

Arsene Wenger swaps five meanwhile, bringing in Gabriel, Calum Chambers, Kieran Gibbs, Alex Iwobi and Joel Campbell. Per Mertesacker, Mathieu Flamini, Nacho Monreal, Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil make way.

Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny (c), Gibbs, Chambers, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Iwobi, Campbell, Walcott, Giroud

Subs: Macey, Debuchy, Monreal, Arteta, Ramsey, Reine-Adelaide, Willock

Seven changes for Sunderland from the side that beat relegation rivals Aston Villa 3-1 at the Stadium of Light last weekend, with DeAndre Yedlin, Sebastian Coates, Ola Toivonen, Jeremain Lens, Danny Graham and Steven Fletcher all handed starts.

England U21 goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, recalled from his impressive loan spell with Preston at the start of January, makes his debut for the club. A big afternoon for him.

Sunderland: Pickford, Van Aanholt, Cattermole, O'Shea (c), Lens, Graham, Toivonen, Coates, Fletcher, Yedlin, Watmore

Subs: Mannone, Jones, Borini, Defoe, M'Vila, Mavrias, Beadling

While we wait for that team news to filter through, here's a reminder of the rest of this weekend's third-round ties.

The early match today is at Adams Park, where Aston Villa are currently being held 1-1 by League Two Wycombe Wanderers after Joe Jacobson's penalty cancelled out a first-half effort from Micah Richards.

Birmingham v Bournemouth
Brentford v Walsall
Bury v Bradford City
Cardiff City v Shrewsbury (Sunday)
Carlisle v Yeovil (Sunday)
Chelsea v Scunthorpe (Sunday)
Colchester v Charlton
Doncaster v Stoke City
Eastleigh v Bolton
Everton v Dagenham & Redbridge
Huddersfield v Reading
Hull City v Brighton
Ipswich v Portsmouth
Leeds United v Rotherham
Manchester United v Sheffield United (17.30 GMT)

Middlesbrough v Burnley
Newport County v Blackburn
Northampton v MK Dons
Norwich v Manchester City
Nottingham Forest v QPR
Oxford United v Swansea (Sunday)
Peterborough v Preston NE
Hartlepool v Derby
Sheffield Wednesday v Fulham
Southampton v Crystal Palace
Tottenham v Leicester (Sunday)
Watford v Newcastle
West Bromwich v Bristol City
West Ham v Wolves

Good afternoon and welcome to IBTimes UK's latest live coverage of FA third round weekend.

Following on from youthful Liverpool's eventful 2-2 draw at Exeter last night, we now turn our attentions to the Emirates Stadium as holders Arsenal host Premier League strugglers Sunderland.

Kick off is at 15.00 GMT, so stay with us for breaking team news and confirmed line-ups in addition to live updates throughout the 90 minutes.