Boro are set to come up against more than £100m of talent later as they face FA Cup holders Arsenal.
Arsene Wenger’s side are favourites to win the competition, and are also fighting for Champions League glory and a top four place in the Premier League.
The Gunners are likely to rotate their squad for the match, with the club still struggling with a number of injuries.
Aaron Ramsey (hamstring) will miss Boro’s trip to the Emirates while Alexis Sanchez (knee) is a major doubt. But England midfielder Jack Wilshere (ankle) could return to the bench after a two-month lay-off.
But how do the likely line-ups compare? We take a look below.
Goalkeeper: Wojciech Szczesny £0 (free) , Tomas Mejias £0 (free)
Arsenal plucked Polish stopper Wojciech Szczesny from Legia Warsaw back in 2006 as a raw teenager, and he has since worked his way through the Gunners’ reserves and into the first-team.
The 24-year-old has made more than 130 appearances for Arsenal already and became Arsene Wenger’s number one in the 2012/13 season.
But it’s not gone to plan this year for the keeper, having made only one appearance in 2015 since being fined £20,000 for being caught smoking in the club shower.
Meanwhile Tomas Mejias joined Boro in February 2014 on loan until the end of the season, making his debut in a 1-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday.
That deal was made permanent in the summer, and the Spaniard was named as Boro’s number one for the start of the season. But a series of shaky displays saw him dropped - but he did dazzle at Manchester City in the FA Cup fourth round.
Right back: Hector Bellerin £0 (free), Ryan Fredericks £0 (loan)
Spanish full-back Hector Bellerin moved to North London in 2011 after leaving FC Barcelona.
The 19-year-old enjoyed a short stint on loan at Watford in the 2013/14 season, and has broken into the Gunners’ first-team this year after injuries to Mathieu Debuchy, Calum Chambers and Nacho Monreal.
Boro are likely to bring Spurs loanee Ryan Fredericks back into the starting line-up on Sunday after missing Tuesday’s win at Blackpool.
The 22-year-old enjoyed an extended spell in Aitor Karanka’s first-team before Christmas, but suffered a thigh injury against Blackburn in December that sidelined him for eight weeks.
Centre back: Per Mertesacker £8m, Ben Gibson £0 (Academy)
Towering defender Per Mertesacker took plenty of time to get on the right side of Arsenal fans, but has since become one of Arsene Wenger’s most reliable warriors.
The 30-year-old has a wealth of experience after amassing more than 100 Germany caps, and moved to Arsenal from Werder Bremen in 2011.
He has clocked up more than a century of appearances for the Gunners and could captain them on Sunday in Mikel Arteta’s absence.
Meanwhile Ben Gibson’s rise through the Boro ranks has been a spectacular one, cementing down a first-team place this season after previous loan spells at Plymouth, York City and Tranmere.
Centre back: Gabriel £11.2m, Kenneth Omeruo £0 (loan)
Brazilian defender Gabriel is in line to make his Arsenal debut against Boro on Sunday after an £11.2m move from Villarreal last month.
The 24-year-old can play at right-back or centre-back and is highly-rated following his displays in La Liga.
Kenneth Omeruo is enjoying a second season at the Riverside, after the Chelsea loanee’s form last year earned him a World Cup call-up with Nigeria.
This season the form of Daniel Ayala and Gibson means Ken has struggled to nail down a starting spot, but did start against Brentford and Charlton in recent weeks.
Left back: Kieran Gibbs £0 (Academy), George Friend £250,000
Flying flanker Kieran Gibbs started his career in Wimbledon’s Academy but moved to Arsenal in 2004 when the club disbanded. Since then he’s worked his way through the Gunners’ youth system, before making the left-back berth his own.
George Friend has been a revelation for Boro since his arrival from Doncaster Rovers in July 2012.
His value has increased hugely after dazzling on Teesside, and was linked with moves to Premier League sides QPR and Crystal Palace last month.
Central midfield: Francis Coquelin £0 (free), Grant Leadbitter £0 (free)
French battler Francis Coquelin signed for Arsenal in July 2008 from Stade Lavallois, but it’s been a hard task to break into a Gunners side blessed with midfield talent.
The 23-year-old made his Arsenal league debut in August 2011 and has since flirted with the first-team.
He was sent out on loan to Charlton earlier this season, but was recalled following Mikel Arteta’s injury - and has impressed in Norht London.
Meanwhile Boro’s midfield maestro and regular skipper Grant Leadbitter was an inspired free signing in May 2012 after his contract at Ipswich ran out, and is the team’s top scorer this season.
Central midfield: Santi Cazorla £15m, Adam Clayton £1.5m
Arsenal’s Spanish magician arrived with a hefty pricetag from Malaga back in August 2012, but has since become one of the Premier League’s most influential midfielders.
The 30-year-old is in good form, having found the net seven times this season.
Boro’s midfield general Adam Clayton arrived from Huddersfield this summer for a modest fee, with Jacob Butterfield going in the opposite direction.
He has since played nearly every match for Karanka’s men and is considered the team’s unsung hero.
Right wing: Theo Walcott £5m (plus add-ons), Patrick Bamford £0 (loan)
Arsenal swooped for young Southampton starlet Theo Walcott in January 2006 in a deal that could see the fee rise to more than £10m.
A regular for the Gunners and England, Walcott has kicked on and become a real Premier League force, but has been hampered by injuries.
One of three Chelsea loanees at the Riverside, Patrick Bamford continues to terrorise Championship defences after building on his fine form at Derby last season.
He has scored three goals in his last four matches and has already scored at Anfield and the Etihad Stadium this year.
A big future awaits for the England Under-21s star.
Left wing: Danny Welbeck £16m, Albert Adomah £1m
A surprise Deadline Day arrival from Manchester United in August 2014, versatile striker Danny Welbeck opted to leave Old Trafford after being out of favour with new manager Louis Van Gaal.
The Gunners were quick to bring him to North London and he enjoyed a purple patch in front of goal during Olivier Giroud’s absence.
He has since often been pushed back onto the wing.
Ghanian winger Albert Adomah was recruited by Boro in the summer of 2013 from Bristol City, and has been a virtual ever-present so far this season.
He could play from the left flank today, as he did so effectively against Manchester City in the last round.
Attacking midfield: Mesut Ozil £42.5m, Lee Tomlin £1.5m
Record signing Mesut Ozil was expected to hit the ground running - but it’s not really happened for the German playmaker so far.
He moved to Arsenal from Real Madrid in September 2013 for a massive fee, but has faced plenty of criticism for his lack of input in a Gunners shirt so far. But since recovering from injury, Ozil has enjoyed a decent goalscoring return in recent weeks.
Lee Tomlin’s Teesside stay began initially on loan 12 months ago, and the front man sealed a permanent deal from Peterborough United in the summer.
He was recently named Championship Player of the Month for January, and put in a scintillating FA Cup performance at Man City in the last round. Boro’s one to watch later.
Striker - Olivier Giroud £12m, Jelle Vossen £0 (loan)
Front man Olivier Giroud could have been a Boro player - but as a youngster at Tours, he instead moved to Montpellier and the rest is history.
He arrived at the Emirates for an estimated £12m after helping Montpellier lift the Ligue 1 crown, contributing 21 goals in 36 league appearances in 2011/12.
He has recently recovered from a broken tibia and has shown glimpses of returning to his best.
Boro rescued Belgian Jelle Vossen from Genk on Deadline Day in August, and the lively front man has shown plenty of promise for the Teessiders. On loan with the view to a permament transfer in the summer, Vossen scored in last weekend’s league win over Barnsley and could lead the line again, as he did at Man City in the previous round.
TOTAL
Arsenal: £109,700,000
Boro: £4,250,000
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