Joshua Zirkzee scored the winning penalty as a 10-man Manchester United beat Arsenal in a thrilling encounter to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup.
United had to play with 10 men for nearly an hour after Diogo Dalot was shown a second yellow card, having mistimed a tackle on Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino.
Manchester United took the lead through an excellent Bruno Fernandes goal in the 52nd minute, after Alejandro Garnacho took advantage of a Gabriel slip and crossed for Fernandes to curl the ball into the top corner.
Dalot was sent off in the 61st minute after his clumsy tackle and Arsenal were level just two minutes later when centre-back Gabriel volleyed in from inside the area.
The Gunners then had a massive chance to take the lead when Kai Havertz was adjudged to have been brought down by Harry Maguire in the box and referee Andrew Madley awarded a penalty.
There was a delay in the spot-kick being taken after a melee in the box in which Maguire, Havertz and Gabriel were all booked.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard then stepped up but Altay Bayindir dived to his left to push away the ball and keep the scores level.
Mikel Arteta's side had big chances through Declan Rice and Havertz again to win the game but could not beat the impressive Bayindir.
United were made to defend throughout extra time as Arsenal looked for ways to take the lead with their numerical advantage.
But Arteta's side could not find a way through and Havertz had his penalty saved by Bayindir before Zirkzee sent David Raya the wrong way to win the shootout.
The result means Arsenal have exited the FA Cup in the third round for the third time in four seasons.
It's just 39 days since the two sides met in the Premier League, in Ruben Amorim's fourth game in charge of United, when the Gunners came out 2-0 winners.
When United came to the Emirates at the beginning of December, Amorim was still trialling things as he got to know his squad.
But this time, United travelled to London after a positive performance in their 2-2 draw with Liverpool in the Premier League, and the work Amorim is doing is starting to show.
The United boss has spoken about how the congested fixture list has given him little time on the training pitch, with just seven days between the fixture at Anfield and this FA Cup tie. But his coaching seems to be taking effect as United showed resilience and structure to their play.
Zirkzee scoring the winning penalty will be a great moment for all, after the striker was booed by supporters when he was substituted in the first half of United's defeat by Newcastle at the end of December.
The Reds came into this game without a win in their previous five matches in the league, and Amorim will hope this is the start of a run of form that can get United going under his leadership.
Source: BBC
BDST: 1017 HRS, JAN 13, 2025
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