Gathered at Old Trafford last night, former players Mark Hughes and Dion Dublin conducted the draw for the FA Cup third round. It didn’t do any favors for the club that plays at the Theatre of Dreams, as Manchester United will travel to the Emirates Stadium on January 11 to face Arsenal.
A Clash Early in the Competition
Arsenal and Manchester United are the two most successful clubs in FA Cup history, with 14 and 13 titles, respectively. However, despite United being the reigning champions, it’s hard to see them as favorites given the current form of both teams.
On one side, the Gunners sit second behind Liverpool albeit nine points adrift but come into this match on the back of two high-scoring victories: a 5-1 win in Lisbon against Sporting and a 5-2 triumph away at West Ham. The return of Martin Ødegaard, who was sidelined for a long spell due to an ankle injury, alongside a brilliant Bukayo Saka (5 goals and 10 assists in 12 matches), has played a crucial role in Arsenal’s resurgence after a slight dip in form a few weeks ago.
On the other hand, Manchester United is in the process of rebuilding but is far from being back to full strength. The club’s worst-ever start to a season in terms of points led to Erik ten Hag’s dismissal on October 27. Following an interim spell under club legend Ruud van Nistelrooy, the arrival of Ruben Amorim brought renewed hope. So far, seven points from a possible nine represents a solid start, but the level of opposition Ipswich Town (1-1), Bodø/Glimt (3-2 in the Europa League), and Everton (4-0 suggests Arsenal remains the favorite.
A Favorable Draw for the Big Clubs
Another all-Premier League clash was drawn, pitting 14th-placed West Ham against 12th-placed Aston Villa. However, these are the only two top-flight matchups, as most of the bigger clubs received relatively easy draws.
Manchester City will host fellow Manchester-based club Salford City FC (League Two), while Liverpool and Chelsea also face opposition from the lowest tier of professional football in England Accrington Stanley and Morecambe, respectively.
Two non-league clubs have managed to reach this stage. Dagenham & Redbridge (National League) will travel to Millwall, while Tamworth, also from the fifth tier, will host one of the biggest matches in their history against Tottenham Hotspur.
A Symbolic Fixture
One of the most touching moments of the draw came when Everton was paired against League One side Peterborough United. This fixture could see 39-year-old Everton full-back Ashley Young play against his own son, Tyler Young, a 2006-born central midfielder who joined Peterborough from Queens Park Rangers this summer.
The veteran defender, who has played for clubs like Aston Villa and Manchester United, quickly reacted to the draw with a short but emotional message on social media: “Dreams could come true.”
