FA Cup Awards: Whittaker winner stings Bees, Trent’s thumper | OneFootball

Our FA Cup awards celebrate the best – and worst – of the weekend’s third-round action.

Moment of the Week

Who said the magic of the FA Cup is gone? Just try telling that to the Plymouth fans who made the journey to Brentford this weekend.

Amid a season of struggle that has them rooted to the bottom of the Championship, Morgan Whittaker’s wonderful winner dumped out their top-tier opponents. Their reward? A date with Premier League leaders Liverpool in round four.

If that wasn’t enough, Tamworth’s tie with Tottenham was an occasion to savour. From the sight of Spurs stars cramming into the non-league side’s dressing room, to the Tamworth players helping fix the faulty nets, there’s just no competition like the FA Cup.

Tamworth, meanwhile, deserve huge credit for becoming just the fourth non-league team to take a Premier League side to extra time. Centre-back Haydn Hollis channelling his inner Zinedine Zidane as the last man was our personal highlight.

Player of the Week

Pep Guardiola was quick to point out how highly Manchester City have always rated James McAtee, after the midfielder helped himself to a hat-trick against Salford.

Having captained the likes of Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Liam Delap at youth level, McAtee has watched on as those teammates have departed the Etihad to become Premier League regulars.

McAtee sent a statement to Guardiola with his treble against Salford at the Etihad and, at 22, is now too old – and too good – to remain on the fringes.

Goal of the Week

Trent Alexander-Arnold has had to listen to plenty of outside noise over the past week.

The Liverpool right-back delivered the perfect response on Saturday lunchtime, with a stunning strike in the club’s 4-0 win over Accrington Stanley.

“I could talk for hours about that goal,” Arne Slot said at full-time.

An honourable mention for William Osula. What a way to notch your first Newcastle goal.

Save of the Week

After a nerve-jangling start at Arsenal, Altay Bayindir ended his afternoon as Manchester United’s hero. Bayindir atoned for an earlier error with a crucial stop from Martin Odegaard, guessing right to keep out the Arsenal captain’s penalty with the game level.

Manchester United’s 10 men held out until penalties, where Bayindir was the difference again with a smart stop from Kai Havertz. Cult status secured.

Stat of the Week

Arsenal’s failure to sign a striker in the summer is beginning to feel very costly…

Read – FA Cup Team of the Third Round – McAtee, Tosin, Dibling

See more – Gary Neville submits to Sheamus, Mo Salah responds, David Moyes returns

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