The Met Police are in talks with the FA about rescheduling some of next month’s FA Cup third-round ties after the draw produced a security nightmare for the force.
In a quirk of fate all seven of London’s Premier League clubs have been drawn at home, as have Millwall and QPR.
The ties are due to be played between Friday January 5 and Monday January 8, with the precise timings yet to be determined.
To compound matters for the Met much of their policing resource is being taken up by marshalling the weekly pro-Palestine marches that have been taking place in central London on Saturdays.
Liverpool’s trip to the Emirates to face Arsenal is the standout tie in the third round draw
Spurs will welcome Burnley to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the third round of the FA Cup
In another unfortunate twist both Luton (Kenilworth Road pictured) and Watford have been drawn at home so Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Police will also be in for a busy weekend
In another unfortunate twist both Luton and Watford have also been drawn at home so Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Police will also be in for a busy weekend.
The Met Police and FA declined to comment.
Arenal’s welcome of Liverpool headlines an intriguing third round of the FA Cup. It will be the first time the sides have met in the competition since 2014 when Arsene Wenger’s Gunners won their fifth-round tie at the Emirates 2-1.
The clash will evoke memories of the final in 2001 which saw Michael Owen’s double secure a 2-1 victory and one part of a Cup treble for Liverpool.
That was one of their eight triumphs in the competition, while the Gunners have won the trophy a record 14 times.
