FA Cup 2025 third-round weekend is always eagerly anticipated and this season’s action did not disappoint, with the usual array of shocks, big stories and high-quality entertainment.
The Magic of The Cup: FA Cup 2025, Third Round Round-Up
FA Cup 2025: Revitalised Red Devils
There was no doubting the glamour tie from the third-round draw, with Premier League heavyweights Arsenal and Manchester United pitted against each other and they certainly slugged it out at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. United, struggling for form in the Premier League, raised their game in north London and led early in the second half thanks to a goal from captain Bruno Fernandes.
However, the visitors then had Diogo Dalot sent off just after the hour mark and that was followed by a Gabriel Magalhaes equaliser for Arsenal. The Gunners then missed a great chance to win the tie as Martin Odegaard had a penalty saved by United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, who also denied Kai Havertz in the subsequent shootout as the visitors came through 5-3 on penalties.
FA Cup 2025: Terrific Tamworth
Arsenal must move on quickly from that cup setback as they have the small matter of Wednesday’s north London derby with Tottenham to focus on, but Spurs will also head into that game after being pushed all the way in the cup on Sunday. Ange Postecoglou’s side were expected to make light work of non-league Tamworth, but on the artificial surface at the National League club’s home stadium – The Lamb Ground – Spurs looked bereft of ideas.
Despite there being 96 places between the sides in the league pyramid, the match ended level after 90 minutes, with Tamworth even having opportunities to win the game and cause what would have been one of the biggest upsets in the competition’s history. However, Spurs’ superior fitness – and the introduction of the likes of Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-min from the bench – saw the Premier League side finally come through against their semi-pro opponents in extra time, with an own goal from the unfortunate Nathan Tshikuna and strikes by Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson sealing the most unconvincing of 3-0 victories.
FA Cup 2025: Plucky Pilgrims
Tottenham just about survived an almighty cup scare, but the same was not true for Premier League Brentford, who were dumped out of the cup on Saturday after going down 1-0 on home soil to the Championship’s bottom club Plymouth.
Plymouth came into the game without an away win of any sort since April, but Morgan Whittaker’s late strike sealed a famous victory for the Pilgrims in front of their newly-appointed manager Miron Muslic, who watched on from the stands after being named Wayne Rooney’s permanent successor earlier in the week.
FA Cup 2025: Big Guns Avoid Shocks
Brentford were the only Premier League team to be knocked out by a side from a lower division, although West Ham also exited the competition on Friday night, losing 2-1 at top-flight rivals Aston Villa in what was new Hammers boss Graham Potter’s first match in charge. The likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City all progressed comfortably past League Two opponents on home soil.
The Reds put four past Accrington Stanley, the Blues went one better against Morecambe and the Citizens stuck eight on Salford. There were also big wins for the likes of Bournemouth (5-1 against West Brom), Leicester (6-2 at home to Queens Park Rangers) and Brighton (4-0 at Norwich). In terms of shocks, League One pair Wycombe and Exeter beat Portsmouth and Oxford from the Championship respectively, while League Two Doncaster knocked second-tier Hull out on penalties after claiming a 1-1 draw at the MKM Stadium.
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