Updated at 19.37
ALTAY BAYINDIR was Manchester United’s unlikely hero as the holders held out for over an hour a man down to knock Arsenal out of the FA Cup on penalties after a feisty 1-1 draw at the Emirates on Sunday.
United’s stand-in goalkeeper saved a penalty from Martin Odegaard in normal time and then denied Kai Havertz in the shootout as the wasteful Gunners had another day to forget in front of goal.
Bruno Fernandes had fired the visitors into the lead early in the second half before Diogo Dalot was sent off on the hour mark for a second bookable offence.
Gabriel Magalhaes quickly levelled for Arsenal, but they wasted a host of chances to win the tie in 90 minutes and were made to pay.
United were perfect from the spot as the much-criticised Josua Zirkzee stroked home the winning penalty in front of the jubilant travelling support.
“We deserved to pass through this round because we suffered all together and showed character,” said United boss Ruben Amorim.
United’s reward is a meeting with the club’s legendary former striker and caretaker boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, who will return to Old Trafford as Leicester’s manager in round four.
Defeat is another hammer blow to Mikel Arteta’s attempts to end a five-year trophy drought for Arsenal, who also lost the first leg of their League Cup semi-final 2-0 to Newcastle on Tuesday.
“It was unbelievable,” said Arteta. “(Based on) The performance we deserved to win the game by a mile, but the reality is that we are out and the only thing we will be judged on is that.”
After four consecutive defeats in all competitions, United were much improved in a 2-2 draw away at Premier League leaders Liverpool last weekend.
Amorim’s game plan was a similar one as the visitors were happy to sit back and contain Arsenal before looking to spring on the counter-attack.
- Jesus adds to injury woes -
However, neither side posed much attacking threat in a flat first half.
And Arsenal’s injury problems mounted before the break when Gabriel Jesus was carried off on a stretcher with a suspected serious knee injury.
If the first 45 minutes lacked action, the second period more than compensated.
United hit the Gunners with a sucker punch seven minutes after the restart.
Alejandro Garnacho took advantage of a slip by Gabriel to gallop into Arsenal territory and teed up Fernandes to blast brilliantly into the top corner.
Shorn of the injured Bukayo Saka, Arsenal’s attack has lacked creativity and goal threat in recent weeks.
But just as United were beginning to believe they could deliver another result on the road for Amorim, they were let down by Dalot’s indiscipline.
The Portuguese full-back needlessly dived in on Mikel Merino when already on a booking and was swiftly shown a second yellow card by referee Andy Madley.
Within seconds Arsenal had made the man advantage count.
Bayindir flapped at Martinelli’s cross and punched the ball into the path of the Brazilian centre-back, whose shot deflected in off Matthijs de Ligt.
The home side were gifted the chance to turn the tie around when Harry Maguire was harshly penalised for a challenge on Havertz which sparked a melee among both sets of players.
Maguire angrily shouted “cheat” towards Havertz, who then went head-to-head with Manuel Ugarte.
But if Bayindir was partly culpable for the Arsenal equaliser, the Turkish international made amends with a brilliant save to turn Odegaard’s penalty behind.
United needed more Bayindir heroics to make it to extra-time as he tipped over Declan Rice’s header.
Havertz somehow fired over from under the shadow of the United crossbar and Rice drilled a shot inches wide as Arsenal failed to kill the tie off.
United, by contrast, were ruthless from the spot as Fernandes, Amad Diallo, Leny Yoro, Lisandro Martinez and Zirkzee converted to progress.
Fair play to utd with ten men and all being a bad week for arsenal
Magnificent to a man. But special mentions again to ugarte and big harry
@Brian Dunne: Maguire was immense and usual clowns here some weeks back laughing at his contract renewal
@Dessie: yep he’s been magnificent. Top pro.
@Dessie: he has being woefull tbh
@Teddy O neill: absolutely lazy waffle. Maguire has been brilliant and anyone saying different is clueless
@Brian Dunne: So having a different opinion is clueless ?? He is shocking
@Teddy O neill: if you think he’s shocking your clueless, yes.
@Brian Dunne: Maguire having a great season Brian.
Anyway, I’m reminiscing about 1999 now. Third round, Arsenal, Missed Penalty. Definitely feeling something :-)
@Brian Dunne: discusting rude person
Great game for the neutral fan…is it 5yrs for arteta in charge and won nothing??
@Lance Taylor: won the covid FA cup but that’s too long ago now to be relevant
@Joshua Walsh: I don’t think covid year counts…*
@anthony davoren: that would be an ecumenical matter!
@Joshua Walsh: FA will be delighted that it remains a top trophy for another round at least.
@Graham: I don’t know what that means but okay
@Joshua Walsh: lately, if either Liverpool or United goes on to win it, it’s Mickey Mouse trophy or Major, depending on your team of course.
That goalkeeper should play everyweek
@Raymond Darcy: Not good enough with the ball at his feet but played a blinder today
@Dave Moran: it was his first big game im sure that’s a potential fix and was possibly nerves. Its not like Onana is much of a Pirlo on the ball either.
@Dave Moran: He ok with the ball at his feet.just not good with his kickouts.
Arteta should be sacked. Shocking game management. Maguire pen decison shocking.
@Michael Carroll: against 10 men. Looking for a goal and he brings on two defensive midfielders. They are playing dire football and if they don’t buy a striker he won’t win anything. Bar diving Havertz’s is useless.
@Cormac: unfortunately arsenal need more than a striker. Need 1 or 2 wide players also
@paul doyle: proper striker scores hat trick today.
@Cormac: there was only Trossard on the bench that was an attacker. We’ve got no options and Jesus gone now, Saka out too. No rotation, major risk of more injuries. Especially Odegaard. His form is in the toilet but we’ve no replacement for him
@Cormac: Havertz is hopeless. For every goal he scores he misses at least 4 open goals. As long as Arsenal have this guy anywhere near the team, they will continue to be also rans.
@Joshua Walsh: whose fault is that. Bring in Sterling was a stupid decision. Over played Saka for last two season, he was bound to get an injury. Arsenal had this problem last year too and didn’t bring in a striker in the summer.
@Ray Ridge: actually agree with you on this one. Can’t understand Havertz at all. No good up front, doesn’t seem to fit in the midfield. Honestly don’t know what type of player he is supposed to be. Move him on
@Cormac: not disagreeing with you. Sterling hopeless, Saka overplayed. Ode now the same. We’ve 27 defenders it seems, but far too short in attack. Merino also another waste of funds. We need an oven ready CF and a wide player just to have options.
Anyone want to buy a LB, we have plenty
@Joshua Walsh: 100m and Rashford is an Arsenal player. Utd do need a left back too. Maybe a swap. Timber and 70m for Rashford.
@Cormac: ha ha, I’m depressed, not suicidal
Should have been over in 2nd half, but too many horrible misses from players in horror form. If ever there was an advertisement for us needed a decent CF, that was it. Well done to Utd, hung in there and knicked it.
@Joshua Walsh: mayby fergusson would be a good signing
@Simon: not getting a game with Brighton, not sure how he’s an upgrade. Anyway we’re maxed out on loan players from premier league, any loan has to be over seas
Great result for Manchester United! Referee was dreadful though.
@Tezmond McVicar: allright basil
@Teddy O neill: Ted!!!
Go for it Ray, let them have it!
As I said, forget about Arsenal. Another pathetic effort, with extra man just for good measure. How anybody has these guys in the conversations to win anything is beyond me. I guess it just proves how poor the premiership is this season when the likes of Arsenal are 2nd. I’ll be amazed if Liverpool don’t win the league by 25 points give or take a couple.
@Ray Ridge: Dont even say that with your zero predictions
Love em or hate em, that was a great performance by united against all the odds. Another trophyless season for Arsenal by the looks of things. Arteta is running out of people to blame
@anthony davoren: He already has,he blameing the ball last week.
@Deano74: apparently he just came out and blamed the Real Madrid jerseys
Great result for utd
Delighted. Something about this Arsenal team is just so vile. Delighted for Havertz.
@Graham: take that as a compliment if I’m honest
@Joshua Walsh: under Arteta they’ve taken anti football to a new level. And I get it that he has to find ways to win, but they are so hard to watch. They have some great talent, but resort to things that are not needed. Felt bad for maguire with that penalty.
@Graham: oh we’re awful to watch. Too slow in midfield and in thought. No space for forwards as a result. This is a long time in the making though, should have prioritized attack but we bought and LB and the slowest player on earth. At least with Wenger it was fun, this is dire. I don’t want to be known as a set piece team.
@Graham: he’s turning in to another Simone and Arsenal another Atletico. Bar set pieces they have no attacking outlet.
@Cormac: if VAR was there, Havertz would have seen ta two yellow cards for diving twice in that penalty incident.
Incredible resolve from all players bar Dalot, he should walk back to Manchester. Huge result.
Well done united. An outstanding performance. Dalot’s second yellow was barely a yellow. But, with all the fouling I wasn’t surprised. Never a penalty and great save too. Arteta has many a question to answer. 1. Did the 3000078M crosses into Maguire work? 2. Spending over 100M on 2 statues like Merino and Havertz. 3. Playing rice CAM? He’s more a CB than a CAM. If united had 8 men we wouldn’t break them down. Havertz’s comfidance is on the floor and with Jesus and Saka now out for months, where do we go from here?
@Sean O’Maolain: speaking as a united fan.. it was 100% a yellow card. If you go flying in like that and get no ball through the player.. yellow every time.
@Barry Lehane: ya agree, while he didn’t get him you don’t go flying in. Don’t give the ref the option. Dalot is brain dead though.
@Barry Lehane: yep fully agree. 2nd yellow all day every day
@Cormac: it was probably closer to a red than it was to no yellow! Ya absolutely brain dead at times, but liking a bit of fight and physicality in the team at for once af least. De Ligt and Maguire were outstanding .
@Sean O’Maolain: He shouldn’t have slid in when already booked, but that’s never a yellow. He barely touched the Arsenal player, if at all. I can see why it’s a free but not all fouls are yellow cards. The ref should have some cop on in that situation, but Madley was atrocious all game. Missed a blatant foul by Jesus when Fernandes had a clear site of goal and gave a peno for a clear dive
Great advertisement to get rid of VAR! Some entertainment!
@Barry Lehane: Other way around. Today showed how incredibly poor the standard of refereeing in England is..
@Barry Lehane: Spot on Barry – great to watch a game without constant VAR interference
@Dave Moran: that ref was brutal and how that was a penalty. United man down and had to beat ref also
@Barry Lehane: much better game without it
@Dessie: TBF if VAR was in use Ugarte would’ve gotten a second yellow for the head to head
@Dave Moran: whooosh.. that was my point. It was good fun !!
@Rebel Red: your having a laugh. Havertz a head taller and goes down holding his forehead. That dive and the dive for the penalty is the only two things Havertz did in the game. Arsenal were pathetic today. Falling to the ground at every tackle.
@Cormac: Exactly my point – if VAR was there it would’ve made something out of nothing
@Rebel Red: VAR dont get involved for yellows, including 2nd yellows.
Great game. Possibly Maguire’s best in a united shirt. Bayandir was great too. Had a feeling when Havertz scuppered that 2nd chance it was going to be united’s day. Probably get bate by southampton now next week.
Sterling was woeful the whole way through. Jesus will be a big loss if that i jury keeps him out long. Raya was also terrible for the shootout. Not to take away from United at all but he might as well have not been there.
@Michael Mullins: Raya looked like an U12 keeper in goal – never gonna save one
@Rebel Red: either committed way too early to those stuttered run ups or just didn’t commit at all when diving. Must be unbelievably frustrating to watch as an Arsenal fan. The only thing I can say is Raya isn’t the only keeper to go too early but that’s not much of a defence
Was the Ball ok today or was it the wrong one ?
Great result for united. Havertz is a joke and that martielli is a waster does nothing but dive. Delighted with the win. Harry mcguire well done to you silenced some doubters.
@robbie Delaney: was immense again.
@Dessie: unbelievable turn around from. This system seem to suit him more.
Well done utd,full credit, wouldn’t mind another meet in the next round..
Same auld Arsenal
@Dessie: Kai Havertz probably a worse finisher than Nunez.
@David Shepherd: that’s a photo finish job surely
@David Shepherd: Ah the so called liverpool fan slagging off liverpool players
@Shanie: trent being world class for liverpool had few bad games and this loop wants him gone he hasent a clue
@Shanie:strange standard there. Not allowed to state the obvious about poor players at the club you support.
@Raymond Darcy: world class that’s funny.
Any sign of wee seanie ???
@ Billy Bell. You are not very bright.
Two poor Teams
@Billy Bell:
Arsenal won’t care a bit about being out of it.
@paulie: of course they they will ya numpty !