Allow me to start by wishing all of you guys a happy new year, hoping it brings silverware to our beloved Arsenal. Our first match of the year will see us kick-off this season’s F.A. Cup campaign at the Emirates against Plymouth with the match starting at 15:00BST.

For those of you who know little or nothing about Plymouth, they are 15th in the Coca-Cola Football League Championship having only won one of their last eight outings. Their last three results are a 1-0 defeat against Cardiff, a 2-0 home win over Southampton and a 2-0 away defeat at the hands of Barnsley.

We go into the match without the injured Toure and Denilson, who join Eduardo, Rosicky and Fabregas on the sidelines. Plymouth have defender David McNamee and Simon Walton unavailable and will most likely start with Manchester United youngster David Gray, who just signed. Paul Gallagher and Emile Mpenza hope to be fit.

It is confirmed that Lukasz Fabianski will be given a rare start and with Denilson injured, I of course hope to see Aaron Ramsey starting, together with Carlos Vela and Jack Wilshere. It may not be the Carling Cup and the F.A. Cup may be our best shot at silverware, but we should be able to start with four of the Carling Cup side without having to worry about the outcome. My favourite line-up for the match:

This is what Plymouth Argyle manager Paul Sturrock told BBC Spotlight:

We’re very disappointed with the results we’ve achieved in the league over the last five or six games. We feel that we merited much better results than we’ve got, but I’m hoping the Cup will be of benefit to the team.

The pressure’s off us and on Arsenal, so we’ve got to go there and enjoy the day.

Finally, Arsene Wenger’s comments on the transfer market:

We have a specific budget which is not as big as I have read in the newspapers, some ridiculous amounts of money that are completely crazy. But we will try to use it wisely and well if we can.

If we end up the match in a draw, a replay will take place on Tuesday, 13th January 2009 at 19:45BST. As always, tune in for team line-ups, half time and full time reports, post-match thoughts, video highlights and what the press is writing. And of course, do contribute if you want to by making use of the comment box available at the bottom of the post as it’s always nice to hear your opinion.