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

FA Cup holders Manchester United are set to face Arsenal as the Premier League's top teams learned their fates in the third-round draw. Fans eagerly tuned in on Monday night, hoping for exciting matchups, and they were not disappointed.

The draw featured several enticing clashes, including Manchester United visiting Arsenal and Aston Villa hosting West Ham in two all-Premier League encounters. Additionally, Manchester City will take on Salford City in a local derby. Chelsea will welcome League Two's bottom team, Morecambe, while Accrington Stanley travels to Liverpool at Anfield. Tottenham will face Tamworth, the lowest-ranked side in the competition, away from home. Last season's semi-finalists, Coventry City, will host Sheffield Wednesday.

All matches are scheduled for the weekend of January 11, 2025. The winners of the third round will receive £115,000, while the losing teams will take home £25,000. Importantly, all matches will be decided on the day, with replays replaced by extra-time and penalties if necessary.

The draw was hosted by Kelly Somers on BBC Two, with former Manchester United players Dion Dublin and Mark Hughes conducting the proceedings at Old Trafford. The standout tie is undoubtedly United's visit to the Emirates to face Arsenal, two of the most successful teams in FA Cup history, with Arsenal boasting 14 wins and Manchester United 13.

Dublin remarked, “I think that might be a TV game, what do you think? They’re the kind of games we need in the FA Cup.” The all-Premier League matchups and Manchester City's favorable draw have quickly made Pep Guardiola's team the favorites to win this year's tournament.

Other notable fixtures include Russell Martin's Southampton taking on his former club Swansea at St Mary's, a London derby between Millwall and Dagenham & Redbridge, and Wayne Rooney's Plymouth Argyle heading to London to face Brentford. Newcastle will meet League Two side Bromley at home, while Bristol travels to Norwich for another intriguing matchup.