Feature: Tiny football club prepares to take on mighty Arsenal in FA Cup

The magic of England's FA Cup will see one of the smallest clubs in Britain take on mighty Arsenal.

Relatively unknown Sutton United could opt to play in one of big London stadiums, with a guaranteed a sell out crowd of around 60,000, and a pot of gold as a reward.

Instead they want Arsene Wenger to bring his world-class players and a contingent of the Gunners' army of fans to their modest ground in outer London, where the capacity is just over 5,000.

Sutton has reached the last 16 in the FA Cup, which gives the smallest club in the country the chance to meet the giant on equal terms.

In the English football hierarchy Sutton is more than 100 places below Arsenal, a top flight club that has won FA Cup 12 times. Furthermore, Arsenal boast 13 League titles, two League Cups, 14 FA Community Shields, one UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and one Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.

While the limelight of the Emirates has been shunned by the little club from just outside London, the people of Sutton will be happier than ever.

It has already been voted one of the happiest places to live in greater London.

Sutton United's chairman Bruce Elliott says he wants the match to be played at their stadium in Gander Green Lane.

Elliott continued: "We have proven we can have a full house. We have every intention of the game going ahead at Sutton because that is what the FA Cup is all about."

He got his wish Wednesday night when the Football Association announced that the Sutton United clash with Arsenal at their tiny ground will be played on the evening of Feb. 25, and the whole match will be televised live. It means only a few hundred Arsenal fans will be able to buy tickets for the David-versus-Goliath encounter.

Sutton will collect a bounty of 312,700 U.S. dollars from the television rights, and a further 228,000 dollars if they beat Arsenal.

Sutton's manager Paul Doswell gave his reaction to the forthcoming clash in a media interview.

He said: "I had to pick myself up off the floor. It is a plum draw against one of the best teams in Europe. To think of Arsenal coming to our little fortress is unbelievable. We talked about the tie against AFC Wimbledon as being our cup final and we talked about Leeds being our European Cup final. Well, this will be our World Cup final."

Despite their global fame, Arsenal cannot expect the red carpet to be rolled out.

The facilities for players at the modest ground used by Sutton are a million kilometers from the luxurious facilities at Arsenal's home.

As Sutton's club mascot, Tony Henderson-Smith, says the communal bath in the changing rooms is now out of action.

Henderson-Smith, famed his mascot costume as Jenny the Giraffe, commented: "We can't use it anymore because of health and safety. I don't see it being a problem, as the holes in the roof will help with the water supply."

And if Sutton pull off a giant-killing act the town is guaranteed to again be voted the happiest place in Britain. Endit