Manchester United, down to 10 men for over an hour, delivered a stunning victory over Arsenal in the FA Cup third round, triumphing 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium. Goalkeeper Altay Bayindir emerged as the hero, saving two penalties to send the holders through in dramatic fashion.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, United held firm against a misfiring Arsenal side that failed to capitalize on their dominance. Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring early in the second half, but Gabriel Magalhaes equalized for the Gunners minutes later, just after Diogo Dalot’s red card left United with 10 men.
The match had no shortage of controversy. Gabriel Jesus was stretchered off in the first half with a suspected knee injury, adding to Arsenal’s attacking woes. Later, VAR was unavailable to review key incidents, including a soft penalty awarded to Arsenal, which Bayindir saved brilliantly from Martin Odegaard.
United’s resilience forced the game into extra time, where Arsenal huffed and puffed but failed to find a breakthrough. With the match going to penalties, Bayindir denied Kai Havertz’s effort, while Joshua Zirkzee sealed the win with a decisive spot kick.
The victory not only secured Manchester United’s place in the next round but also highlighted Arsenal’s struggles in front of goal, particularly against shorthanded opposition. Despite enjoying the majority of possession and numerous set-piece opportunities, Arsenal lacked the cutting edge to break down a compact United defense led by Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire.
Manager Erik ten Hag praised his side’s grit, saying, “Playing with 10 men for such a long time at a stadium like this is no easy task. The players showed incredible character, and Altay Bayindir was exceptional.”
Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admitted his team fell short. “We had control but didn’t do enough in the final third. Against a team like Manchester United, you must take your chances, especially when you have a numerical advantage,” he said.
The defeat piles pressure on Arsenal, who have now been eliminated at the first hurdle in consecutive FA Cup campaigns. Calls for reinforcements in the January transfer window are growing louder, with Gabriel Jesus’ injury and Havertz’s continued struggles in front of goal leaving the Gunners short on reliable attacking options.
As Manchester United fans celebrate a memorable win, Arsenal supporters are left to reflect on another missed opportunity in their pursuit of silverware.
