London, January 8

The FA Cup still holds the same allure for Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech as he embarks upon his quest for a fifth success in the 145-year-old competition this weekend.

A four-time FA Cup winner with Chelsea, Cech is hoping to help Arsenal win the FA Cup for the third year running — a feat last achieved by Blackburn Rovers between 1884 and 1886.

With Arsenal top of the Premier League and chasing a first league title since 2004, they could be forgiven for wanting to manage their resources, but Cech only has eyes for Saturday's home game with Sunderland. "I always love to play the FA

Cup, no matter the team we play, because it is always special to be involved," the Czech international, 33, told the Arsenal website.

"The second reason is if you play in the final or semi-final, you get to play at Wembley Stadium. You always play big games there,” Cech said.

The visit of Sunderland, second from bottom in the Premier League, to the Emirates Stadium is one of five all-top-flight ties in round three.

Manchester City, three points below Arsenal in the league, visit Norwich City, while high-flying Leicester City visit fourth-place Tottenham Hotspur. Leicester will be without 15-goal top scorer Jamie Vardy but the England striker is expected to be fit for the teams' reunion in the league three days later.

The other all-Premier League affairs see Southampton host Crystal Palace and Newcastle United visit Watford. The action begins with a classic contest between haves and have-nots as Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool visit Exeter City, who currently sit in 16th place in England's fourth tier.

Exeter memorably held Manchester United to a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford 11 years ago and manager Paul Tisdale, who joined the club a year later, has vowed that they will not be overawed by Liverpool.Manchester United also face lower-league opposition in the form of third-tier cup specialists Sheffield United, who reached the League Cup semi-finals last season and the FA Cup last four the year before.

League champions Chelsea, meanwhile, have a home game with Scunthorpe United, as interim manager Guus Hiddink looks to emulate his feat of 2009 by leading the Blues to FA Cup glory. "We can go far in the FA Cup and hopefully we can win it," says goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. "With the FA Cup and Champions League it can still be a positive season, especially if we end up in the top four."