This is the 16th different FA Cup tie (excluding replays/second legs) between Arsenal and Manchester United, the second most in the competition’s history after Everton vs Liverpool (19).
This is the first meeting between Arsenal and Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup. It will be the seventh different fixture in the current format of the competition (since 1925-26) to have been played in each of the six rounds available to top-flight clubs after Arsenal vs Chelsea, Chelsea vs Liverpool, Chelsea vs Man Utd, Chelsea vs Tottenham, Liverpool vs Man Utd and Man Utd vs Southampton.
Arsenal have eliminated the holders of the FA Cup on each of the last six occasions they’ve faced them, most recently beating Manchester City 2-0 in the 2019-20 semi-final. However, Manchester United have won three of their last four FA Cup games against the Gunners, including their only previous meeting at the Emirates Stadium in the competition (3-1 in January 2019).
Manchester United have eliminated Arsenal from the FA Cup more than any other side in the competition’s history (8), while the Gunners have knocked out the Red Devils more than any other team (7).
Arsenal have been eliminated from the FA Cup at the third round stage in two of the last three seasons, having fallen at this hurdle in just one of the previous 25 campaigns. They last went out in the third round in consecutive seasons in 1994-95 (vs Millwall) and 1995-96 (vs Sheffield United).
Manchester United have progressed from the third round of the FA Cup in each of the last 10 campaigns, since a 2-1 loss to Swansea City in 2013-14. They’ve kept a clean sheet in nine of their initial 10 third round matches in that run.
