At the end of the century one of the shocks of the century: that is what David Moyes, the Preston manager, had called for and Moyes' boys came tantalising close to realising those hopes last night.
But Alex Ferguson is right: Arsenal do like a battle and, having been two goals down by the 21st minute - Kurt Nogan scoring both - Arsenal clawed their way back with Luis Boa Morte instrumental.
So it is the holders who go to Wolves in the fourth round courtesy of strikes from Boa Morte, two from Emmanuel Petit, both after Preston had been reduced to 10 men with David Eyres' sending-off, and with nine minutes remaining Marc Overmars added a flattering fourth.
The match was billed as the first Double winners, Preston 1889, against the most recent, Arsenal last season. Though that was correct historically, Arsenal were unrecognisable from the side that won at Wembley last May. Already used to missing David Seaman, Tony Adams and Nigel Winterburn, they were also without Dennis Bergkamp and Nicolas Anelka, both injured.
Their team sheet must have been greeted with some excitement in the pumped-up home dressing-room and it was no surprise that Preston started at gale-force speed. In the third minute Lee Dixon hoofed a Michael Jackson header off the Arsenal line and in the seventh Nelson Vivas looked distinctly nervous clearing a Nogan cross. None of that, though, was sufficient warning of the storm that followed a brief lull in which Arsenal must have thought they had stabilised.
They had not and were soon creaking, though this was no lower division charge.
Arsenal were undone by a Eyres' pass that cut out Dixon, leaving the left-back Ryan Kidd time and space on the by-line. Kidd's cross was met at the near post by Steve Bould and Preston's striker Jonathan Macken. Both went to ground, a scramble ensued, the ball ran free and Nogan pounced from six yards. As a celebration Nogan jumped on the Preston mascot, the Deepdale Duck.
Four minutes later Alex Manninger seemed to have adopted the nickname, pawing anxiously at a dangerous in-swinging corner from Eyres. Another corner was a result and Eyres did the same again. This time Manninger missed the ball completely, allowing Nogan to head in unmarked almost on the goal-line. Deepdale trembled almost as much as Arsenal.
Typically, Arsenal then began to fight. Ray Parlour had an excellent shot tipped away by David Lucas, Boa Morte was twice tripped in the Preston penalty area by Colin Murdock, each time Dermot Gallagher waving play on, but on the stroke of half-time Boa Morte swivelled on to an Alberto Mendez throw-in and sent a diagonal shot into the far corner.
Any assurance Arsenal derived from that nearly vanished on the restart, when an unconvincing clearance by Manninger hit Nogan and rebounded into the side-netting. But Arsenal escaped and Overmars immediately started probing. Only 12 minutes of the second half had gone when the Dutch winger seized on the ball in midfield, skipped over Jackson and was on the edge of the Preston area preparing to shoot when Eyres scythed him down.
It was not the penalty Arsenal claimed but Eyres was rightly dismissed and Petit provided extra punishment with a superb left-foot free-kick equaliser.
Arsenal's manager, Arsene Wenger, later praised Preston and admitted his side were lucky to still be alive to defend their trophy. "For the first 25 minutes they played like world champions - they were quickest to the ball and very determined and it could have been three," he said.
Wenger also defended his team against charges of over-enthusiasm. "We are a team with a lot of fighting spirit but fair spirit," he said.
"We respect other teams and we want to win. I think if you compare in the fair play league we are in a good position."
Petit defended Arsenal's performance but admitted: "We started very badly and at 2-0 down we thought it was all over for us. Naturally we want to win the cup again but we have to be more focused on what we do on the pitch."
Arsenal have been made 8 to 1 fourth favourites by bookmakers William Hill to win the FA Cup following last night's win. Hills make Chelsea 11 to 2 favourites with Aston Villa at 13 to 2 and Manchester United 7 to 1.
Preston: Lucas, Parkinson, Kidd, Murdock, Jackson, Gregan (Appleton 87), Cartwright, Rankine, Nogan (Harris 87), Macken (McKenna 64), Eyres. Subs Not Used: Darby, O'Hanlon. Sent Off: Eyres (58). Booked: Gregan, Rankine. Goals: Nogan 17, 21.
Arsenal: Manninger, Dixon, Vieira, Bould, Vivas, Overmars (Garde 90), Keown, Parlour, Petit, Boa Morte, Mendez (Caballero 70). Subs Not Used: Upson, Grondin, Lukic. Goals: Boa Morte 44, Petit 60, 79, Overmars 81.
Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury).
Last Night's Results English FA Cup Third Round
Preston< LI(2) 2 Nogan 17 21 Arsenal< LI(1) 4 Boa Morte 44 Petit 60 79 Overmars 81 Attendance: 21,099
Scottish League: Division One - Hamilton v Clydebank postponed.
