Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers
The FA Cup with Budweiser
Fifth Round Proper
3pm, Saturday 16 February 2013
Emirates Stadium, Arsenal
Winning clubs receive £180,000 from The FA's Prize Fund
Click here for fixtures

Per Mertesacker is expecting anything but an easy ride when Blackburn Rovers arrive at the Emirates on Saturday.

The Arsenal defender says their Championship opponents will provide a serious threat with a place in the last eight of The FA Cup with Budweiser up for grabs.

Speaking exclusively to FATV, Mertesacker admits the Gunners rearguard must be at their best to keep quiet a Rovers forward line that has scored seven goals in four games.

"I played them twice last year, they are always dangerous," said 28-year-old Mertesacker, who joined Arsenal from Werder Bremen.

"We saw a good side in Brighton in the last round, so we know what counts, especially in The FA Cup.

"The expectations are that every team has good quality, but we want to show, especially at home, that we can be the difference."

He added: "We have a strong side and have shown defensively that we have improved in the last few games.

"We should cover each other so that their strikers can't get into their shape and do their best.

"You have to cope with different players and different styles. You are always looking forward to the next opponent, but maybe you like the physical players more.

"The tricky ones are sometimes much tougher. But as a team we have to defend well."

The FA Cup Sixth Round draw takes place at Wembley Stadium on Sunday afternoon at 5.55pm. You can watch it live with us here on TheFA.com.