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ESPN staff 7y

Sutton's Roarie Deacon eyes 'biggest upset of all time' against Arsenal

Sutton United midfielder Roarie Deacon has told the Daily Mirror he believes the non-league side can pull off "the biggest upset of all time" when they host Arsenal in the FA Cup on Monday night.

Sutton, who are already responsible for one of the competition's biggest shocks when they defeated top-flight Coventry in 1989, are hoping to set up a quarterfinal meeting with fellow National League side Lincoln, who eliminated Premier League club Burnley on Saturday. 

Deacon, who came up through the youth ranks at Arsenal, said: "I think it would be the biggest upset of all time, Sutton United beating Arsenal, most definitely.

"It would be the biggest upset. It would be spoken about for many, many, many years to come. I think it would be the biggest upset of all time.

"We've got belief in this group. The way we play together at home, the team spirit and we believe we can beat anyone at home. We'll treat Arsenal like we have every FA Cup which is believing in ourselves, showing we are a great team and we've proved that by getting so far."

Sutton, currently 17th in the fifth tier after securing promotion last season, beat Championship side Leeds United in the last round after boss Garry Monk rotated his side.

Deacon said he hopes to face the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil on Monday, though, saying: "I hope Arsenal will bring their big players -- just not Sanchez! You want to play with Ozil and Sanchez but we also know how good they are.

"I think they'll probably play a team similar to what they played at Southampton [when Arsenal won 5-0 in the fourth round]. No matter what team they put out, it will be full of internationals and we can't worry about that. If we play our game, play at our best then we can win."

Sutton midfielder Nicky Baily told The Sun he hopes the club's home form -- on Gander Green Lane's plastic pitch -- will help secure an upset and vowed to take an aggressive approach.

"Our biggest problem has been our away form but at home we are pretty decent," he said.

"It is all about rattling their players. If anyone tries to get past me, then they are coming down! So long as it's done the right way.

"I will be looking to leave my mark on someone but will do it in a fair way. It is just good to come up against these sorts of players.

"It's a game we didn't expect to have this season and it is just a bonus."

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