Following the resignation of Casey Stoney at the end of the previous season,[1] Marc Skinner was announced as the new Manchester United head coach on 29 July 2021, having stood down from his head coaching position at Orlando Pride in order to take the job.

[3] Manchester United scheduled four preseason friendlies, with all but the Rangers game played behind closed doors.

[4][5] As a member of the first tier, United entered the FA Cup in the fourth round proper.

They were drawn away to third-division Bridgwater United, winning 2–0 in front of a sellout club-record crowd of 2,500.

The draw for the quarter-final was made on 20 December 2021 with Manchester United drawn away to five-time winners Arsenal, the competition's most successful team.