Are there FA Cup third round replays? Competition rules explained for Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham

Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham all begin their FA Cup campaigns this weekend with all three needing silverware for different reasons.

The Gunners have not tasted trophy-winning success since winning the competition in 2020, while Enzo Maresca is seeking a first trophy to kickstart his project at Stamford Bridge. Spurs, meanwhile, will be desperate for silverware, having failed to lift a major trophy since the 2008 League Cup.

And the FA Cup has undergone a significant change this year, with the elimination of one of its oldest traditions. Replays from the first round proper onward have been scrapped following a new scheduling agreement between the FA and the Premier League.

This deal is set to boost funding for grassroots football by up to an additional £33million per season. The six-year agreement sparked outrage among many EFL and non-league clubs when it was unveiled last year, as they felt they had not been adequately consulted about the changes.

They argued that the decision was made solely in the interest of top-flight clubs. Replays had already been removed from the fifth round onwards.

As such, this weekend's third round matches will be decided on the day, with extra-time and penalties if required. In a bid to appease FA Cup enthusiasts, ties were intended to be scheduled around weekends, although this year's third round action kicked off on a Thursday night with three ties, wrapping up on Monday night.

For the first time, the fourth and fifth rounds and the quarter-finals will not coincide with any Premier League fixtures. The final is slated for the second-last weekend of the season, with no Premier League games taking place on the same day.

FA chief executive Mark Bullingham has expressed his confidence in the revisions made to the world's oldest cup competition. "The Emirates FA Cup is our biggest asset and generates over 60 per cent of our revenue to invest in the game, so it is critical to secure a strong format for the future," he said.

"This new agreement between the FA and the Premier League strengthens the Emirates FA Cup and gives this very special tournament exclusive weekends in an increasingly busy calendar.

"The new schedule ensures the magic of the Cup is protected and enhanced, while working for the whole of the English game. The longer summer period also allows a much-needed player break before the start of the next season.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters concurred, highlighting the concerted effort to boost the FA Cup: "Throughout our discussions, both parties have been committed to enhancing the scheduling of the Emirates FA Cup, a hugely important domestic competition with a storied history.

"The Emirates FA Cup is our biggest asset and generates over 60 per cent of our revenue to invest in the game, so it is critical to secure a strong format for the future. This new agreement between the FA and the Premier League strengthens the Emirates FA Cup and gives this very special tournament exclusive weekends in an increasingly busy calendar.

"The new schedule ensures the magic of the Cup is protected and enhanced, while working for the whole of the English game. The longer summer period also allows a much-needed player break before the start of the next season.

"Throughout our discussions, both parties have been committed to enhancing the scheduling of the Emirates FA Cup, a hugely important domestic competition with a storied history."