All of the Premier League’s big boys avoided upsets in the fourth round and the draw has been made for the next stage of the historic competition. Arsenal are top favourites to win the FA Cup for the third season in a row after the draw for the fifth round.
The Gunners will host Championship leaders Hull, who they beat in the 2013/14 final, at the Emirates Stadium.
Barclays Premier League champions Chelsea have been drawn at home to title challengers Manchester City in the fifth round of the FA Cup, while League 1 strugglers Shrewsbury have been handed a tough tie against Manchester United at New Meadow.
The Blues impressed as they won 5-1 at MK Dons on Sunday to continue their revival under interim manager Guus Hiddink. City had eased to a comfortable 4-0 win at Aston Villa on Saturday.
Shrewsbury were rewarded for their dramatic comeback to beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-2 by being given another home tie against the Red Devils, who had beaten Derby 3-1 away in the first of the fourth-round fixtures on Friday evening.
When told of the draw, Hiddink, who won the FA Cup in his last temporary spell as Chelsea boss in 2009, said: “It is already a final.
“Manchester City is a huge game, so let’s start the final in the next round.”
Shrewsbury boss Micky Mellon told his players to focus on Southend – and not Manchester United.
“We will focus on what’s important and that’s the next league game at home to Southend,” he told the club’s official site.
“I’m delighted that we are always on the horizon, we will have a game against one of the biggest clubs in the world.
“This game should keep performance levels high from the squad because everyone will want to play in that game.
“It will be great to see the Greenhous Meadow full once again and hopefully we can put on a good show.
“It is great to have such a big game for the Shrewsbury Town fans and for the people of Shropshire, it should give everyone a big buzz.
“You go into any game wanting to win it and this will be no different.
“It’s Southend at home next and we need to play that game well and the league games after that, even with the Manchester United game coming up in the near future.”
Elsewhere, FA Cup holders Arsenal were drawn at home to Hull, the team they defeated to win the 2014 final at Wembley and met them again in the third round last season.
The Gunners knocked out Championship side Burnley 2-1 on Saturday, while Steve Bruce’s promotion-chasers won 3-1 at Bury.
There will be other all-Premier League clashes when Tottenham host Crystal Palace and Bournemouth take on Everton.
Spurs won 3-1 at League 1 Colchester on Saturday, while the Eagles beat Stoke 1-0.
Bournemouth secured a place in the fifth round for the first time since 1989 when they won 2-1 at Portsmouth.
The Toffees, meanwhile, coasted to a 3-0 away win over Carlisle.
League 1 Peterborough battled to a 2-2 draw at West Brom, and if they win through the replay would head to Championship side Reading, who beat Walsall 4-0.
Watford, 1-0 winners at Nottingham Forest, were drawn at home to Leeds, who won 2-1 at Bolton.
The remaining fixture will see Blackburn, 3-0 winners at Oxford, host either Liverpool or West Ham, who played out a goalless draw on Saturday evening.
The fifth round ties will take place across the weekend of 19th-22nd February and winning clubs will receive £180,000 from The FA prize fund.
