Goodness me, Arsenal a whisker away. Nice interplay releases Chambers on the overlap and his low cross only just eludes Olivier Giroud in the middle. Watford haven't touched the ball yet...

Watford content to sit back and let Arsenal stroke it around in their own half in the opening seconds.

Image source, PA

Under way at the Emirates. Watford, kicking from right to left, get us up and running.

Steve Claridge
Ex-Leicester striker at the Emirates Stadium for BBC Radio 5 Live

"Arsene Wenger's line-up says to the crowd: I get it. I understand how serious a situation this is, I will not be responsible for us going out of the competition, you can't blame me for this one, this is down to the players. I've picked the strongest possible team."

Carrick Cameron: I'm going to counter all the doom-mongering and say that I think Arsenal will trounce Watford and win the league. And beat Barca.

Image source, Reuters

The players are out at the Emirates, Arsenal in their usual red and white, Watford in their black change strip.

Image source, AFP

A late change for Watford. Costel Pantilimon starts in goal instead of Heurelho Gomes, who was in the original line-up. That was an administrative error, apparently, and the FA have allowed the swap.

• Arsenal have won four of their five previous FA Cup meetings with Watford, including a 4-2 third-round win en route to lifting the trophy in 2002.

• Watford have never beaten Arsenal since the Premier League era began.
• Arsenal have won 15 consecutive rounds of the FA Cup. The post-war record is 16, which the Gunners hold (2002-2004).
• Watford are appearing in their first quarter-final since 2006-07, when they eventually lost 4-1 to Manchester United in the semi-finals.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: "We want to stay alive in all of them [competitions] but then again let's be focused on the next one.

"I don't believe anyone in my side is thinking about Barcelona at the moment, or Everton, they are completely focused on Watford."

It should be an absolute cracker at Molineux. We've already seen the ref have a word after a couple of hefty challenges early doors. Tasty.

BBC Sport's resident silk-shirted sage is going for 2-0 to the Gunners.

He says: "Watford played well in an open game against Leicester last weekend but were beaten by a quality goal, and they will not go down without a fight at Emirates Stadium.

"This has become a big competition for Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, again. He has been getting some stick from a few fans and he probably needs to win the FA Cup for a third straight year just to shut some of them up."

Think you know better than Lawro? Predict the score for this match and the rest of this round's Premier League fixtures in ourPredictor game.

Jonathan Pearce
Match of the Day commentator at the Emirates

"Arsenal may have to win all their remaining league matches to win the title. Realistically, their chance has gone.

"The FA Cup again provides their best chance of silverware. Fans shouldn't be sniffy. History can be made. No club in the modern era has won the competition three years in a row. Blackburn were the last to achieve it - 130 years ago.

"Watford's front two could cause real damage to the suspect Arsenal central defence but the Hornets have looked jaded recently and the home side, surely now throwing everything at this tie, should get to Wembley again.

"Remember, though, 1987!, external"

Right, with just 25 minutes until kick-off we're going to turn our attention back to Arsenal v Watford...

Rory William Forrest: LOVING the truth bombs being dropped by Lawro on LVG, Arsenal, Sterling, City et al. Agree with every single one!  

Rian Hoskins: Van Gaal should be there until the end of the season. If you are going to give it to Giggs, you have to stick by him.

Mark Lawrenson
Former Liverpool defender on MOTD2 Extra

Image source, EPA

Talking about Tottenham playing an under-strength side in their 3-0 Europe League last-16, first-leg loss at Borussia Dortmund on Thursday.

"They have a better chance of getting in the Champions League through their league position than by winning the Europa League, so it was a sporting decision made by Mauricio Pochettino."

MOTD2 Extra
Sunday Times journalist Jonathan Northcroft

"The emergence of youngsters like Marcus Rashford was the last-chance saloon for Louis van Gaal at Manchester United. Rashford started so well but against Liverpool at Anfield he was full of instructions and struggled at right-midfield. He already looks short of confidence. 

"Players seem to get worse under Van Gaal rather than better. And that is one of the reasons why the club will look at it and think: This just doesn't work." 

Mark Lawrenson
Former Liverpool defender on MOTD2 Extra

"Louis van Gaal is the wrong man, in the wrong place at the wrong time. He is yesterday's man, the manager.

"He has always been yesterday's man. He is managing in the wrong era.

"I would stick Ryan Giggs in there until the end of the season and see what he can do." 

John Hartson
Former Arsenal and Wales striker on MOTD2 Extra

"West Ham have lost one of their last 10 matches - they are absolutely on fire. And Dimitri Payet has been just brilliant - he's got a big goal in him too."

Image source, Rex Features

Mark Lawrenson
Former Liverpool defender on MOTD2 Extra

"West Ham can fight you. They are big, strong and athletic. They are very much like how their manager, Slaven Bilic, played.

"Dimitri Payet is one of the top five players in the country this season. He is one of those players that gets you off the seat."