Altay Bayindir was the penalty hero for 10-man Manchester United, complicating Kai Havertz’s nightmare afternoon by making a complete stop for the Arsenal striker to help the holders into the FA Cup fourth round with a 5-3 win from 12 yards out. after the tie ended 1-1 after extra time.
Havertz missed two glorious close-range openings during the contest and never looked confident of redeeming himself in the shootout. His penalty saved gave Joshua Zirkzee the chance to strike the winner and the Dutchman took it before enjoying United’s success with a big away win after his own recent struggles in front of goal.
Diogo Dalot’s sending off forced United to play an hour with a man down, but Arsenal failed to add to Gabriel’s equalizer from Bruno Fernandes and Martin Odegaard’s penalty in regulation time was also saved by Bayindir.
It is a huge result for United boss Ruben Amorim, who follows on from recent successful visits to Manchester City and Liverpool. But it’s also an outcome that prompts questions over Arsenal’s attacking abilities and whether they need a new striker this month.
Within a week, they suffered a 2–0 defeat in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle and were knocked out of the FA Cup. Next? A north London derby with Tottenham in which their Premier League ambitions cannot afford another blow.
As the drama unfolded…
It was an epically tied cup, full of incidents and controversies.
Arsenal were left fuming when Gabriel Martinelli’s first-half strike was ruled out for offside and Harry Maguire got a touch as he appeared to try to play the ball as it went through. Then they cursed their luck again when Gabriel Jesus was hauled off after challenging Fernandes.
Arsenal’s frustration levels rose even further when Fernandes converted a brilliant United counter-attack, which saw Alejandro Garnacho – linked with a breakaway – drive the visitors forward after Gabriel’s slide.
Havertz – who had a miserable game – squandered a great chance to reply straight away, angled in from close range, but Arsenal were ahead when Dalot took a powerful shot and lunged at Mikel Merino, earning him a second yellow card. It turned into a double penalty for United and Gabriel leveled clinically when the ball fell to him in the box just moments later.
Emotions flared again when Havertz went down under Maguire’s challenge in the box. The centre-back was furious with the Arsenal striker when the penalty was awarded. Havertz then returned to the deck after clashing with Manuel Ugarte, holding his head. Odegaard was the next to hold his head when Bayindir saved his spot-kick.
United’s reserve stopper then brilliantly denied Declan Rice – before Havertz missed an even better chance than his first, giving United an 88th-minute break from three yards.
It was Matthijs de Ligt who saved United in extra time, diving in front of Leandro Trossard to prevent a certain goal, before David Raya made a good save at his near post after a turnover to keep out Zirkzee’s deflected shot.
United were well beaten here in the Premier League at the start of December. This looked like an improvement under Amorim – the fact that they battled with 10 men for so long made the victory all the sweeter.
More to come.
What’s coming up?
