Arsenal 1-1 (aet) Manchester United

Manchester United win 5-3 on penalties 

Arsenal’s erstwhile striker Kai Havertz missed his spot-kick to leave Manchester United penalty shootout victors on a dramatic afternoon in North London.

This mesmerising FA Cup third round clash had it all, as the thrilling tie of the round lived up to its billing – with glory, failure, heroes and villains, redemption, explosive talent, superb technique, power, passion, goals, penalty saves, and a red card all on show, as this blockbuster thrillingly unfolded in freezing temperatures. 

While the glory was for the victors of United, redemption came in the form of their misfiring forward Joshua Zirkzee, who scored the winning penalty on Sunday – after being utterly humiliated when substituted after only 33 minutes as Newcastle eased to victory against Ruben Amorim’s disjointed side at Old Trafford a mere two weeks ago.

Yet United on Sunday showed great reserves of character when playing with ten men for nearly an hour, including a gruelling 30 minutes extra time, after Diogo Dalot was correctly sent off after picking up a second yellow on the hour mark.

It was hard to believe it was only 39 days since the two sides met in the Premier League, in Amorim's fourth game in charge of United, when the Gunners were comfortable 2-0 winners. Yet Amorim has been making progress ever since, with his side matching the Gunners efforts, even with ten men.

Speaking after the match, Amorim said: “The spirit was there even with ten men. I think the connection between the team on the pitch and the fans outside was a really good thing to feel. I think we are improving on that, and I think that is the base of everything. Now the rest will come but that connection, we are fighting.”

As for Mikel Arteta, questions are now being asked over his bizarre reticence in his steadfast refusal to bolster the squad with a centre-forward the side so badly needs.

“From 1,000 games like this you should lose one. 

“Unfortunately, it was this one. 

“We deserved to win the game by a mile, but the reality is we are out and that is the only thing that's going to be judged,” insisted a dejected Arteta after the match, even if few believed his claims.

On a bitterly cold afternoon, the heavyweights of Arsenal and Manchester United contested a knockout cup match for the ages, and one which fully paid homage to all number of legendary classic storied encounters that this fixture has provided over many decades, as one of the most gripping fixtures in world football.

Before kick-off Arsenal sported their all-white kit as part of the North London club’s No More Red campaign, in a bid to raise awareness in combatting anti-knife crime and against teenage violence.

It was a talented Arsenal teen, 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly, who started once again at left-back, keeping out such worthy talent as Riccardo Calafiori, Kieran Tierney and Alex Zinchenko. While boss Arteta picked Jesus to start the game.

Arsenal dominated a lively opening, amid a vociferous soundtrack generated by both sets of supporters, amplified by the increased numbers allocated to away travellers in cup ties, which meant The Red Devils had 7,956 fans - in a total attendance of 60,109 – who vociferously backed their team from behind the goal.

On 23 minutes, Kobbie Mainoo tested David Raya with a low effort from outside the box, but the Gunners keeper was equal to the task after an opening that saw Arsenal dominate without piercing the visitors defence, which included reserve keeper Altay Bayindir in goal – who was to emerge as another Red Devils hero.

United boss Amorim, fresh from an excellent point at Premier League leaders Liverpool last time out, opted for Alejandro Garnacho up front, with the United attacker forcing a save from Raya after the half hour mark.

As the interval approached, a stricken Jesus was stretchered off with what looked like a serious injury, after he went down tracking back in the Arsenal box, immediately calling for help, with Raheem Sterling eventually replacing the Arsenal attacker.

United, who had previously only won four of their last 20 away games, went ahead seven minutes after the break, when Bruno Fernandes showed excellent technique to fire past Raya with pace and precision after being freed by Garnacho who beat Lewis-Skelly in the build-up, to make it 1-0, much to the joy of the massed ranks of United fans behind the goal.  

Regardless of severity of Jesus’ injury, the fact Arsenal need to bolster their paltry stock of strikers was underlined when the relentlessly underwhelming Havertz fired wide after the interval, when the Gunners No29 really should have at least tested Red Devils keeper Bayindir.

However, the momentum changed in a matter of seconds as the game shifted Arsenal’s way on 62 minutes.

First through awful indiscipline from Dalot, who was shown the red card for a second yellow, by referee Andrew Madley for a dreadful studs-up challenge on Mikel Merino, to leave United with ten players.

As the cheering from the home support had barely died down, two minutes later, Gabriel hooked the ball home via a deflection off Matthijs de Ligt to make it 1-1.

Tails up against ten men, Arsenal swarmed into the box, which saw Havertz go down under pressure from Harry Maguire, leaving referee Madley no option but to award a spot-kick.

In the absence of the club’s regular penalty taker, the injured Bukayo Saka, up stepped captain Martin Odegaard. The strike was true, but United keeper Bayindir showed excellent reactions and strong hands and wrists to dive low to his left and keep the ball out on 69 minutes.

In between the two sets of players clashed, which saw Maguire and Gabriel booked.

With the tempo at fever pitch, even if the temperatures felt sub-zero on what felt like a sub-zero afternoon, the impressive Bayindir pulled off a superb save from substitute Declan Rice’s header, as the sides moved into extra time.

Early on in the first period, Raya foiled substitute Zirkzee at the near post, after ten man United swept forward, but in truth both heavyweights had punched themselves out after such a blockbuster and were waiting for the lottery that was penalties. 

Step forward the disappointing Havertz, who had his effort saved by Bayindir, before United hero Zirkzee fired his side into the fourth round, where they will now face Leicester City at Old Trafford - with the prospect of an energising cup run in defence of the trophy they refused to lose grip of this weekend.

As for Arteta, two damaging cup defeats in a miserable week have turned up the spotlight on his leadership, with serious questions now being asked about his frustrating failure to add to his squad.

“You’re going to have difficult moments - it’s how you respond to them,” said a downbeat Arteta after the match.

Next up is the North London derby, at home against bitter rivals Spurs this Wednesday, with defeat simply not an option for the increasingly under-fire Arteta.