Ten-player Man Utd knock Arsenal out of FA Cup with shoot-out win

Altay Bayindir and Joshua Zirkzee were the penalty shoot-out heroes as 10-player Manchester United defeated Arsenal in an epic contest to make it through to the FA Cup fourth round, where they will host Leicester.

The United goalkeeper compounded Kai Havertz’s nightmare afternoon with a full-stretch stop from the Gunners striker to help secure the holders a 5-3 win from 12 yards after the tie had finished 1-1 following extra-time at the Emirates.

Havertz missed two glorious close-range openings during the match and never looked confident of making amends in the shoot-out. His saved penalty gave Zirkzee the chance to strike the winning spot-kick and the Dutchman delivered before revelling in United’s success with the big away following after his own recent struggles in front of goal.

Diogo Dalot’s sending off had forced United to play for an hour with a player less but Arsenal were unable to add to Gabriel’s equaliser to Bruno Fernandes’ breakaway goal, with Martin Odegaard’s controversial penalty in normal time also saved by Bayindir. “Justice” posted United on their social media account afterwards.

It is a huge result for United boss Ruben Amorim, adding to successful recent away days at Manchester City and Liverpool. Their next tie, against Leicester, will be played between February 7 and February 10.

But this is also an outcome that fuels the questions around Arsenal’s attacking abilities and whether they need a new striker this month.

In the space of a week, they have suffered a 2-0 first-leg loss in the Carabao Cup semi-finals to Newcastle and been knocked out of the FA Cup. Next up? A north London derby with Tottenham where their Premier League ambitions cannot afford to take another hit.

How the drama played out…

There was drama and controversy throughout this tie.

Arsenal fumed when Gabriel Martinelli’s first-half strike was ruled out for offside, with Harry Maguire getting a touch as he appeared to try to play the ball on its way through. They were then cursing their luck again when Gabriel Jesus was stretchered off after challenging Fernandes.

Was it right to rule out Martinelli strike?

Mikel Arteta and Arsenal were left aggrieved when Gabriel Martinelli’s 18th-minute strike was ruled out against Man Utd.

The Arsenal attacker was in an offside position when the ball was played through to him – but the ball touched United defender Harry Maguire on the way through.

Belatedly an offside flag went up.

The decision for the officials was whether Maguire deliberately played the ball – in which case Martinelli would have been free to play on and score – or if it just deflected off Maguire. A deflection does not negate offside.

The officials decided it was the latter – and Martinelli was deemed offside.

Arsenal’s frustration levels ramped up even higher when Fernandes converted a brilliant United counter, which saw Alejandro Garnacho – linked with a move away – drive the visitors forward after Gabriel’s slip.

Havertz – who had a wretched game – squandered a great chance to respond instantly, skewing wide from close range, but it was advantage Arsenal when Dalot took a heavy touch and lunged at Mikel Merino, earning him a second yellow card. It turned into a double punishment for United, with Gabriel clinically equalising when the ball fell to him in the box just moments later.

Emotions erupted again when Havertz went down under Maguire’s challenge in the box. The centre-back raged at the Arsenal striker when the penalty was given. Havertz was then back on the deck after a clash with Manuel Ugarte, holding his head. It was Odegaard holding his head next when Bayindir saved his spot-kick.

The stand-in United stopper then brilliantly denied Declan Rice – before Havertz missed an even better chance than his earlier opening, giving United an 88th-minute reprieve from three yards out.

It was Matthijs de Ligt to United’s rescue in extra time, nipping in ahead of Leandro Trossard to prevent a certain goal, before David Raya saved well at his near post after the turnaround to keep out Zirkzee’s deflected shot.

United were well beaten here in the Premier League at the start of December. This looked like progress under Amorim – the fact they fought for so long with 10 players made the victory even sweeter.

Arteta: Incredible we didn’t win that game

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta:

“Incredible how you don’t win that game. That’s basically [how you] sum it up. The dominance, superiority in relation to the opposition, everything we did to try to win the game. We didn’t deserve it, we didn’t get what we deserved. But there’s an element of putting the ball in the back of the net, we did it once. With the amount of situations, chances, penalties that we had. We didn’t. We go home extremely sad, but I cannot be more proud of my players.

Asked about what he said to Havertz after the game: “To him and to all of them: that I love them, that we all love them. Individually and collectively they are a joy. What this team produces every three days is incredible regardless of what happens. I am not going to lose sight of that, because of a result or two because we didn’t deserve those. What we can do better, let’s try to do it. But it’s difficult to achieve, it’s an emotional part, it’s something related to confidence as well.”

On needing to sign a new striker: “We missed from various ways, from different players. I understand guys that [point of view], but I cannot love our players more and we very much focus on the players we have to perform at the highest level. The rest is not in our hands, not in my hands.”

Amorim picks out signs of progress

Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim:

“Especially in the first half we played better than in the [Premier League] game. We were better in set-pieces, more aggressive, we showed spirit, even with 10 men.

“The sending-off was really hard on us. There were some opportunities from Arsenal. The players were really tired.

“But I felt since the first minute today was our day. And I felt a connection with our fans.

“When we score first it helps us to suffer. It’s more strength to suffer. We can calm down the game. We are understanding more the way we play – sometimes not playing well but you can control the game in certain moments. It’s clear we’re improving with the way we suffer. It’s a good thing for a team.”

What’s coming up?

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