Sutton United land Arsenal in dream FA Cup draw as National League part-timers gear up for 'World Cup final' 

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Sutton United were reeling in disbelief and talking giddily about their ‘World Cup final’ on Monday night after being drawn to face Arsenal in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

The National League part-timers, who dumped Leeds out of the Cup on Sunday, will face Arsene Wenger’s 12-time winners at Gander Green Lane next month.

Lincoln City, leaders of the National League, who beat Championship leaders Brighton at Sincil Bank on Saturday, face a daunting tie at Premier League Burnley, who have won 10 of their 14 games at Turf Moor this season. 

Sutton United have landed themselves a dream FA Cup fifth round tie with Arsenal 

The five top-ranked teams still in the competition were all drawn away from home. Chelsea go to Wolves to face the conquerors of Liverpool, Tottenham cross London to Fulham, Manchester City have an awkward test at in-form Huddersfield and holders Manchester United visit Blackburn.

It is the first time in the 146-year history of the FA Cup that two non-league teams have reached the last 16 and Sutton are delirious at the prospect of a home tie against Arsenal, 108 places above them in football’s pyramid.

‘I had to pick myself up off the floor,’ said manager Paul Doswell. ‘It is a plum draw against one of the best teams in Europe. To think of Arsenal coming to our little fortress is unbelievable. We talked about the tie against AFC Wimbledon as being our cup final and we talked about Leeds being our European Cup final. Well, this will be our World Cup final.’

Jamie Collins' second-half penalty secured the National League side a 1-0 win over Leeds 

Sutton have three former Arsenal players in their squad — Roarie Deacon, Craig Eastmond and Jeffrey Monakana. Striker Craig Dundas, who has played more than 400 games and scored nearly 100 goals for the club, is a staunch Gooner.

The home teams were drawn by England boss Gareth Southgate and the away teams by Robbie Savage. ‘I will love Gareth Southgate forever,’ said Doswell, who watched it from home with his seven children crowded around. ‘Robbie took his time, didn’t he? He pulled out the ball and the kids were saying, “It’s a six or a nine”. He turned it round and it was a six. Arsenal.’

At Gander Green Lane, the clubhouse erupted and no one paid any attention to the rest of the draw.

Sutton manager Paul Doswell was overjoyed after learning that his side would face Arsenal 

‘Indescribable, the place went absolutely mental,’ said chairman Bruce Elliott. ‘We were still trying to get to grips with the fact we had beaten Leeds. We are just in dreamland.

‘Anybody who questions the romance of the FA Cup should have been here, or been here on Sunday or at either of our two games against AFC Wimbledon. It is life-changing for this club and what a reward for Paul and the players. My phone was red-hot. People were ringing me trying to buy tickets.’

These were the chaotic scenes which marked the end of a ‘Manic Monday’ for chairman Elliott.

After another night of celebration, he reported to the ground for radio interviews in the morning and an appointment with builders about fixing the leaking roof. Then he squeezed in a few hours at work before heading back to Gander Green Lane to watch the draw.

Sutton have three former Arsenal players in their squad including Roarie Deacon (pictured)

‘Manic but a good sort of manic,’ he said. Elliott is an accountant by trade and was meant to spend the day on the last few self-assessment tax forms on his desk.

Hopefully, his clients will forgive him if his mind drifts towards other numbers, such as trying to increase the 5,000 capacity and investing the money from this FA Cup run to ensure the club prospers for years to come.

It may include a new repayment plan for the £500,000 interest-free loan from Doswell that enabled Sutton to buy their 3G pitch.

Besides the prestige of Wenger bringing his illustrious Arsenal team to play on Sutton’s artificial surface, this tie is sure to be selected as one of the five which will be shown live on TV. This alone will bring another windfall of nearly £250,000.

Theo Walcott and a star-studded Gunners outfit will visit Gander Green Lane in February 

‘I wasn’t sure we’d get past Wimbledon,’ said Elliott. ‘And I’d made up my mind that the run would end with Leeds. Nobody who was inside the ground will forget the experience. The place was rocking with a capital R.

‘I’m old enough to remember the first game against Leeds and I’ve seen a few days down there but I don’t remember a day like that. It was a special, special day. No one wanted to leave. You don’t get through to the fifth round of the FA Cup with part-time footballers and a club run by volunteers without having a great sense of togetherness.

‘Then the dust settles and you realise of the original 736 teams who entered the competition there are only 16 left and we are one of them. It’s a piece of history for us.’

Then you draw Arsenal.    

Lincoln City, who beat Brighton on Saturday, face a daunting tie at Turf Moor against Burnley