Sutton United manager Paul Doswell said a ‘non-league bubble’ had led him to underrate the Gunners and said they would be able to ‘deal with the artificial surface’.

Gander Green Lane’s pitch proved to be a talking point ahead of the Leeds United tie with pundits questioning how the Championship side would cope with it.

3G pitches are not permitted in the Football League, but are allowed in the Conference National League and all rounds of the FA Cup.

The tie against Arsenal was sealed after captain Jamie Collins went on to slot home a second-half penalty against the Whites during the home game on Sunday, January 29.

Mr Doswell, whose team were at the centre of a media frenzy on Thursday, February 16, said: “We are really going to concentrate on the match from Saturday onwards, we have just got to enjoy what is happening, this circus is not really football related.

“It’s a different experience and it’s one for the players to enjoy. I think all of us underestimated how big the name Arsenal was, we were quite naïve to it as we are in our non-league bubble.

“They are a huge club with a huge fan base. It’s amazing thinking that they will be playing here having been at Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

“We have the 3G pitch, we’ve only lost here four times in the last 45 games. That said it’s a real David and Goliath situation and they will be able to deal with any surface.”

Follow the FA Cup fifth-round tie and more from 5pm on the Sutton Guardian website on Monday, February 20.

The match will be aired live on BBC One from 7.55pm the same day.