Preston vs Arsenal as it happened: Olivier Giroud's late winner sends Gunners through

All the latest action as the Premier League sides enter the FA Cup

Olivier Giroud applied a tight finish to see Arsenal past a hard-working Preston side (Getty)

Saturday sees the return of the FA Cup third round, with 25 ties to be played today, starting with Manchester United vs Reading at Old Trafford.

Jaap Stam returns to his former club for the first time since he was abruptly sold by Sir Alex Ferguson in 2001 following revelations in his autobiography.

Jose Mourinho is expected to name a much-changed team for the tie, as is Arsene Wenger for when Arsenal face Preston at Deepdale in the 5.30pm kick off.

Other stand-out ties include Everton vs Leicester City, Hull vs Swansea and non-league Sutton United at home to AFC Wimbledon.

• Jaap Stam: How Sir Alex Ferguson ended my Manchester United career on a petrol station forecourt
• Sutton United vs Wimbledon: Arsenal old boy Craig Eastmond hoping good showing will help him move back up
• Pep Guardiola's men answer their critics - Manchester City are back in business

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Friday's FA Cup results:

West Ham United 0 Manchester City 5

Saturday’s FA Cup fixtures (all 3pm kick offs unless stated otherwise):

Manchester United v Reading (12.30pm kick off)

Accrington Stanley v Luton Town

Barrow v Rochdale

Birmingham City v Newcastle United

Blackpool v Barnsley

Bolton Wanderers v Crystal Palace

Brentford v Eastleigh

Brighton & Hove Albion v Milton Keynes Dons

Bristol City v Fleetwood Town

Everton v Leicester City

Huddersfield Town v Port Vale

Hull City v Swansea City

Ipswich Town v Lincoln City

Millwall v Bournemouth

Norwich City v Southampton

Queens Park Rangers v Blackburn Rovers

Rotherham United v Oxford United

Stoke City v Wolverhampton Wanderers

Sunderland v Burnley

Sutton United v AFC Wimbledon

Watford v Burton Albion

West Bromwich Albion v Derby County

Wigan Athletic v Nottingham Forest

Wycombe Wanderers v Stourbridge

Preston North End v Arsenal (5.30pm kick off)

[7 January 2017 19:18 · Joe Miles]

86 MINS

Iwobi cleverly weaves through a sea of white shirts, but the final strike goes straight into the path of Maxwell. He should have done better from such an appealing angle. 

[7 January 2017 19:22 · Joe Miles]

89 MINS

GOAL 

PRESTON 1 - 2 ARSENAL

Who else but Giroud? The Arsenal man has done it again. The ball goes into the box and Perez cleverly flicks the ball back to Giroud who pokes it home. It brings a sense of desolation to the home side, as it appears to be another late win for Wenger's side. 

[7 January 2017 19:22 · Joe Miles]

90 MINS

There will be a minimum of four additional minutes to finish this fixture. Can Preston scrape an equaliser? We'll see.

[7 January 2017 19:24 · Joe Miles]

92 MINS

Substitution: Maitland-Niles is replaced by Holding.

[7 January 2017 19:32 · Joe Miles]

FULL TIME

Arsenal into the fourth round of the FA-cup, following a somewhat shakey performance here today at Deepdale. 

A late goal from Giroud secures Arsenal's place in the fourth round, following a shaky display at Deepdale. The home side broke the deadlock with an early goal from Robinson, which set the pace in the favour of Grayson's men for the majority before the interval. However, the goal just fifty seconds into the second-half from Ramsey gave Arsenal a lifeline and regained their confidence on the pitch. 

Preston deserved more from the game, but that's the way the cookie crumbles in the FA cup. They will be tremendously upset that they do not even have a replay, but they can take a number of positives from their performance today.

It's been a classic day, crammed full of exhilarating FA Cup displays. Make sure to tune in tomorrow for coverage of tomorrows fixtures.

That's all from us. Have a fantastic Saturday evening.