With Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson in action, you were guaranteed box-office football, exciting entertainment and two sides neck-and-neck in search of success when Arsenal took on Manchester United.
The fixtures were arguably the greatest rivalry in English football just over 20 years ago, but it has arguably lost its edge as time has gone on amid on-field struggles for both sides.
However, January 12, 2025 could be the date when all that changes – the result of a tumultuous FA Cup tie that saw United edge out Arsenal on penalties after 120 minutes of action.
Altay Bayindir is a name that will be on the lips of United fans, after he saved Martin Odegaard’s penalty in regulation time and made countless other sprawling stops before denying Kai Havertz in the shoot-out.
How the match unfolded
The turbocharged atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium was surprisingly rewarded with a meek and uneventful first half in which Gabriel Jesus had a potentially serious knee injury overshadow the proceedings.
Namesake Gabriel Martinelli’s disallowed goal just after quarter of an hour was the first incident of any consequence – the Brazilian was adjudged to have been offside before slotting the ball into Bayindir’s net – but Arsenaldespite the noise of the local faithful, he failed to maintain any momentum.
Odegaard looked bright in parts but struggled to unlock a well-organised United defense that was comfortable against a Gunners side that lacked the quality of Bukaya Saka on the right flank.
Kobbie Mainoo had United’s first effort on goal, forcing David Raya to get down wisely to save his shot from 25 yards, before Lisandro Martinez was shown the first yellow card of the game after a collision with Jesus – a combination that may have indirectly led to his subsequent knee injury.
Bruno Fernandes was also booked for dissent, in response to a clash with Jesus that eventually saw the 27-year-old carried off on a stretcher with his shirt hiding the pain on his face.
Analysis of the Match of the Day trio of Gary Lineker, Theo Walcott and Micah Richards at half-time, along with a cup of tea and a McVitie’s Milk Chocolate Digestive, barely had time to finish before the game suddenly burst into life.
Alejandro Garnacho emerged from a 50/50 clash with Gabriel in midfield with the ball and galloped into Arsenal territory. Argentinian striker he recalled as Amad Diallo sat on the benchhe then played a precise ball across the area to the onrushing Fernandes, who scored with his rhythm to send the 8,000 traveling United fans wild.
At that point, Arsenal were undoubtedly second best, but Diogo Dalot’s second yellow card dismissal – for a stupid tackle on a loose ball – gave the competition’s most successful team (14 wins) back into the game. Dalot barely made it down the tunnel before Gabriel Magalhaes equalized – the goal-hungry centre-back capitalized on a poor Bayindir kick to fire a low shot over Matthijs de Ligt’s deflected boot.
Bayindir then took center stage as his rather average performance in the first 70 minutes of the game was replaced by something resembling a top-flight Peter Schmeichel.
First, after Harry Maguire was adjudged to have fouled Havertz in the penalty area, he saved Odegaard’s penalty, before denying substitute Declan Rice with a superb shot across goal. Havertz then inexplicably curled the ball over the bar from close range as Arsenal tried to squeeze their man advantage and Bayindir also denied Rice once again before the end of normal time.
De Ligt’s superb last-gasp strike prevented substitute Leandro Trossard from scoring as extra-time went on, while at the other end Ray, a virtual spectator after Fernandes’ goal, got down brilliantly to save substitute Joshua Zirkzee’s deflected shot to start the second 15 minutes.
Neither side could find a winner, and the game went to penalties, with Bayindir once again the hero as he ensured Havertz had a game to remember for all the wrong reasons. United scored all five of their spot-kicks and Zirkzee was given the honor of sending the hosts into the fourth round.
Execution of penalties
See Arsenal 1-1 Man Utd (3-5 penalties) player ratings here.
Nothing beats controversy, especially when it comes to a heavyweight fight as two of England’s most successful clubs.
With VAR not used in the third round FA Cupthe final judgment on each decision rested with the officials on the field. And in the 17th minute of the match, a decision was made as to whether Gabriel Martinelli was offside before putting the ball into United’s net.
The Brazilian was a yard away, that much was abundantly clear, but the contentious element was whether Harry Maguire’s attempt to intercept Odegaard’s through ball was an attempt to play the ball or just a deflection.
If it had been the former, Martinelli would have been onside, but the assistant referee on the near touchline opted for the latter – much to the dismay of Mikel Arteta as he grumbled into the ear of the fourth official: “That’s not possible”.
Unfortunately, it was possible for the Spaniard and there was no goal.
Bayindir played 145 games in all competitions for Turkish giants Fenerbahce – certainly a large enough sample for United to decide whether or not to cut the mustard in England.
The 26-year-old was deliberately signed as a replacement for Andre Onani, but has made just four appearances for the Red Devils – three of those appearances this season Carabao Cup. Judging by his shooting ability – or apparent lack thereof – and his initial vacuum of aura whenever the ball entered the court from the air, he has work to do.
Indeed, if Amorim wanted to give Bayindir the benefit of the doubt because of his disastrous footwork, he is unlikely to be so kind when addressing his winger after the cross that directly led to Gabriel’s equaliser.
However.
While all of the above was, well, bad, what he produced in the final 20 minutes of regular time was nothing short of spectacular. First, Bayindir got down brilliantly to his left to keep out Odegaard’s flailing penalty – the first time the Norwegian had missed one in senior football – before showing the reflexes of a cat to deny Declan Rice’s header. Yes, the English midfielder put it within reach, but it was still a great stop.
Bayindir then squeezed Havertz to tip the ball over the bar in a dying ember, and again denied Rice with a left-footed shot around the post.
In the shootout, he hit just the right way to deny Havertz once again – going from zero to hero in the blink of an eye.
There was a time when Harry Maguire’s Manchester United career seemed over. Out of the team and out of the running, he was still knocking around because of his high salary.
But in Amor’s familiar three-back system – the formation Maguire starred in for Gareth Southgate while playing for England – the 31-year-old looks right at home. On the side of De Ligt and Martinez, he made nine defensive actions in the first half alone, cleared the ball five times and won four of the four duels in which he participated. He also rose like a salmon and cleared his head on four occasions.
The second half was more of the same, clearing the ball from United’s penalty area on numerous occasions, and he was extremely unfortunate to award a penalty for the tiniest bit of contact with Havertz. Leny Yoro is waiting to become a permanent member of United’s squad, but it is hard to argue against Maguire’s inclusion when he is playing at this level.
make no mistake, Arsenal they are a completely different side without Bukayo Saka.
To say they are bereft of ideas without the 23-year-old may be a bit extreme, but it is undeniable that most attacks falter without his invention, ability to beat a man inside or outside, or his spur-of-the-moment quality on the ball.
It wasn’t until Dalot’s red card that things really picked up in the chance creation department, which allowed Arteta’s side more space and freedom to create an overload. And without wishing to sound like a broken record, they are missing that one player with killer instinct in front of goal – Odegaard’s timid effort from the spot and Havertz’s bizarre late miss before extra-time further proof that they are missing out.
Alexander Isak is that, although the way Arsenal managed to raise £150m is well above this writer’s pay grade.
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