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The FA Cup third round is one of the most highly anticipated weekends in the English football calendar, with lower-league teams getting the chance to take on some of the biggest teams in the world. This season’s edition promises to be just as exciting, with several mouth-watering ties lined up.
The headline fixture of the round is the heavyweight clash between 14-time FA Cup winners Arsenal and holders Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. The two teams have a rich history in the competition, with United winning eight of their 14 FA Cup encounters, Arsenal winning five, and one draw. Sunday’s game will be the 15th FA Cup encounter between the two teams and will have to be decided on the day, with no more replays in the cup this season.
The Gunners haven’t gone beyond the fourth round since lifting the cup for a record 14th time after beating Chelsea in 2020, while 13-time winners United emerged with the cup for only the second time since 2004 after defeating Manchester City at Wembley last season. The cup rivalry between the two teams has thrown up some of the most memorable moments in FA Cup history, including Ryan Giggs’s solo goal winner in the 1999 semifinal replay, Alan Sunderland scoring a last-minute winner in the 1979 Final, and Arsenal winning the first-ever penalty shoot-out in a final when beating United in 2005.
In the event of a draw, 30 minutes of extra-time will be played before the last resort of penalties – which may have to be deployed to separate these two Premier League giants.
Another exciting tie is Liverpool‘s match against fourth-tier Accrington Stanley. The Reds will be looking to avoid a giant-killing, but Stanley will be hoping to cause an upset. Chelsea also face a potential banana skin against Morecambe, while Manchester City take on Salford City, who are co-owned by a cluster of former Manchester United players.
Salford City will be gunning for glory in the standout fixture of the day as they travel to Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium. The League Two promotion chasers have won their last six matches without conceding a single goal, a far more impressive record than their hosts. Pep Guardiola’s side haven’t impressed in either of their consecutive victories and may well concede chances in transition on Saturday night.
Tottenham Hotspur‘s trip to non-league Tamworth has all the makings of an FA Cup classic. Spurs seem to emerge out of every match with fewer fit defenders and more pressure on manager Ange Postecoglou. Success in the cup competitions is imperative for the Australian boss, whose side are naturally favorites against the National League strugglers. Yet, the intangible lustre of the FA Cup inevitably claims one almighty scalp each year. Could the 4,000-capacity Lamb Ground be the setting for this season’s shock result?
Newcastle United are – seemingly – in little danger of falling to that ignominious fate. Eddie Howe’s royally in-form outfit host fourth-tier Bromley fresh from an efficient 2-0 victory over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, their seventh victory on the spin.
Other notable ties include Nottingham Forest vs Luton, a repeat of the 1959 FA Cup Final, and Aston Villa vs West Ham United, an all-Premier League clash. Wycombe Wanderers, meanwhile, take on Portsmouth, and Wolverhampton Wanderers face a tough trip to Bristol City.
Bristol City are unbeaten since Christmas and will be looking to cause an upset against Premier League strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers. Gary O’Neil’s side have won just one of their 13 away games in 2024/25, making this tie an intriguing one.
The FA Cup has a long history of giant-killings, and this season’s edition promises to be no different. Who will be the giant-killers of this year’s FA Cup third round? Will we see any major upsets this weekend? Only time will tell.
Mid-table Championship outfit Millwall conclude the third round by hosting fifth-tier Dagenham & Redbridge on Monday night. Alex Neil is yet to win a game since taking over the Lions at the end of 2024, but will have the luxury of a ten-day break to prepare for the visit of a side that also changed their manager over the festive period.
Ben Strevens has been succeeded by his assistant Lewis Young who – at 35 – lives up to his name. However, Young will be aware of Millwall’s strong FA Cup record. The London outfit have twice made it to the FA Cup semi-finals in the 21st century, losing the final to a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired Manchester United at the Millennium Stadium back in 2004.
