For many, the FA Cup third round is the most exciting weekend in the English football calendar. This is the stage of the world's oldest football competition when the top two divisions of the pyramid wade in.

Arsenal will host Manchester United in a tasty all-Premier League fixture, meanwhile, with one of the FA Cup’s two most successful clubs guaranteed to fall at this stage. The third round of the FA Cup will take place between Thursday 9 January and Monday 13 January.

The FA Cup third round traditionally takes place in January and that stage of the competition sees the introduction of Premier League and Championship teams. Barring a huge surprise not seen since non-league Tottenham Hotspur won the cup in 1901,

The FA Cup third round is one of the most savoured periods in the English football calendar. It is when the 44 Premier League and Championship clubs enter the competition, joining the 20 lower-league and non-league clubs who made it through last month's second round.