Arsenal 1-1 Man Utd (3-5 pens): Altay Bayindir saves from Kai Havertz in penalty shoot-out as 10-player FA Cup holders progress

Altay Bayindir was the penalty shoot-out hero for 10-player Manchester United, compounding Kai Havertz’s nightmare afternoon with a full-stretch stop from the Arsenal striker to help the holders into the FA Cup fourth round with a 5-3 win from 12 yards after the tie finished 1-1 after extra-time.

Havertz missed two glorious close-range openings during the contest and never looked confident of making amends in the shoot-out. His saved penalty gave Joshua Zirkzee the chance to strike the winning spot-kick and the Dutchman delivered before revelling in United’s success with the big away following after his own recent struggles in front of goal.

Diogo Dalot’s sending-off had forced United to play for an hour with a player less but Arsenal were unable to add to Gabriel’s equaliser to Bruno Fernandes’ breakaway goal, with Martin Odegaard’s penalty in normal time also saved by Bayindir.

It is a huge result for United boss Ruben Amorim, adding to successful recent away days at Manchester City and Liverpool. But it is also an outcome that fuels the questions around Arsenal’s attacking abilities and whether they need a new striker this month.

In the space of a week, they have suffered a 2-0 first-leg loss in the Carabao Cup semi-finals to Newcastle and been knocked out of the FA Cup. Next up? A north London derby with Tottenham where their Premier League ambitions cannot afford to take another hit.

How the drama played out…

It was an epic cup tie, packed with incident and controversy.

Arsenal fumed when Gabriel Martinelli’s first-half strike was ruled out for offside, with Harry Maguire getting a touch as he appeared to try to play the ball on its way through. They were then cursing their luck again when Gabriel Jesus was stretchered off after challenging Fernandes.

Arsenal’s frustration levels ramped up even higher when Fernandes converted a brilliant United counter, which saw Alejandro Garnacho – linked with a move away – drive the visitors forward after Gabriel’s slip.

Havertz – who had a wretched game – squandered a great chance to respond instantly, skewing wide from close range, but it was advantage Arsenal when Dalot took a heavy touch and lunged at Mikel Merino, earning him a second yellow card. It turned into a double punishment for United, with Gabriel clinically equalising when the ball fell to him in the box just moments later.

Emotions erupted again when Havertz went down under Maguire’s challenge in the box. The centre-back raged at the Arsenal striker when the penalty was given. Havertz was then back on the deck after a clash with Manuel Ugarte, holding his head. It was Odegaard holding his head next when Bayindir saved his spot-kick.

The stand-in United stopper then brilliantly denied Declan Rice – before Havertz missed an even better chance than his earlier opening, giving United an 88th-minute reprieve from three yards out.

It was Matthijs de Ligt to United’s rescue in extra time, nipping in ahead of Leandro Trossard to prevent a certain goal, before David Raya saved well at his near post after the turnaround to keep out Zirkzee’s deflected shot.

United were well beaten here in the Premier League at the start of December. This looked like progress under Amorim – the fact they fought for so long with 10 players made the victory even sweeter.

What’s coming up?

SNF

Sunday 12th January 12:30pm