FA Cup Third Round Draw: Arsenal to Host Holders Manchester United

Manchester United emerged victorious over Manchester City in the 2024 FA Cup final, a year after experiencing a defeat by their rivals at Wembley. The draw for the FA Cup third round has set up a match between current holders Manchester United and record 14-time winners Arsenal, with United playing away. Premier League leaders Liverpool are scheduled to host League Two club Accrington Stanley, while Manchester City will welcome Salford City, a team owned by the ‘Class of 92′. Tamworth, one of only two non-league clubs remaining in the competition, will play at home against Tottenham. These third-round fixtures are slated to be played over the weekend of Saturday, 11 January. The third round signifies the entry point for all 44 Premier League and Championship clubs into the competition, joining the 20 lower-league and non-league teams that successfully navigated last weekend’s second-round ties. Audible groans were heard from supporters at Old Trafford as Manchester United, who defeated rivals Manchester City in May to secure their 13th trophy, were confirmed as Arsenal’s opponents. Salford City’s ownership group includes former Manchester United players Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, Phil Neville, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes, and David Beckham. Tamworth, currently the lowest-ranked team still in the cup, will host Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs as a reward for their penalty shootout triumph against League One side Burton Albion. Concurrently, fellow National League team Dagenham & Redbridge will travel to face Championship club Millwall. Everton full-back Ashley Young, 39, could potentially play against his 18-year-old son Tyler, following Everton’s home draw against Peterborough. “Wow…dreams might come true,” Young, a former England international, posted on X. Elsewhere, Chelsea will host Morecambe, who are at the bottom of League Two. Meanwhile, Bromley, another fourth-tier team facing challenges, will journey to St James’ Park to play Newcastle United. The complete list of FA Cup third-round fixtures is as follows: Southampton v Swansea City Arsenal v Manchester United Exeter City v Oxford United Leyton Orient v Derby County Reading v Burnley Aston Villa v West Ham Norwich City v Brighton & Hove Albion Manchester City v Salford Millwall v Dagenham & Redbridge Liverpool v Accrington Stanley Bristol City v Wolverhampton Wanderers Preston North End v Charlton Athletic Chelsea v Morecambe Middlesbrough v Blackburn Rovers Bournemouth v West Bromwich Albion Mansfield Town v Wigan Athletic Tamworth v Tottenham Hull City v Doncaster Rovers Sunderland v Stoke City Leicester City v Queens Park Rangers Brentford v Plymouth Argyle Coventry City v Sheffield Wednesday Newcastle United v Bromley Everton v Peterborough United Wycombe Wanderers v Portsmouth Birmingham City v Lincoln City Leeds United v Harrogate Town Nottingham Forest v Luton Town Sheffield United v Cardiff City Ipswich Town v Bristol Rovers Fulham v Watford Crystal Palace v Stockport County