Manchester United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir saved two penalties as the 10-man Red Devils dumped Arsenal out of the FA Cup on spot kicks following a 1-1 draw at the Emirates in the third round.
The two teams with more titles in the tournament than any other club did not serve up an FA Cup classic in the first half, where Gabriel Martinelli had an effort ruled out for offside and the Gunners' set-pieces - which they took their sweet time taking - proved ineffective.
The stretcher also had to come out for a stricken Gabriel Jesus, who appeared to sustain another knee problem towards the end of the first half, one in which the visitors committed no fewer than 12 fouls.
However, a tame first half preceded a chaotic second, in which Bruno Fernandes broke the deadlock, Diogo Dalot was sent off and Gabriel Magalhaes restored parity for the Gunners, all before Bayindir's terrific save from a harshly-awarded Martin Odegaard penalty.
The 10-man Red Devils dug in to force an additional 30 minutes, in which Arsenal repeatedly huffed and puffed without picking the Man United lock, showcasing their worrying lack of cutting edge once again.
Bayindir produced more 12-yard heroics in the nail-biting shootout - keeping out a corner-bound strike from the increasingly profligate Kai Havertz - and Joshua Zirkzee completed a perfect set of penalties to send the holders into round four.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
Talk about a rivalry reignited. Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira and Martin Keown would not have looked one bit out of place in Sunday's blockbuster, fought between two FA Cup titans who evidently have just as much desire to lift the trophy as they always have.
The Amorim masterplan initially worked to a tee - just as it did against Liverpool at Anfield - as even though it was the same old story for Arsenal in attack, Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire more than earned their keep at the back.
The latter had every reason to feel hard done by r.e. the penalty incident - the VAR room would have surely overturned the on-field decision - but at the same time, Manuel Ugarte's apparent headbutt on Havertz also went unpunished thanks to the absence of technology.
However, Arsenal can realistically have few complaints about going out at the first hurdle yet again, having shown a total lack of attacking incisiveness against 10-man opponents for an hour.
Calls for attacking reinforcements at the Emirates were already growing louder in the wake of the midweek Newcastle United defeat. Now, with Jesus damaging his knee yet again and Havertz alarmingly missing more and more gilt-edged chances, surely it is time to get the chequebook out?
As Gooners go to bed angry, the Man United faithful have now witnessed their side excel on both Liverpool and Arsenal's grounds, and both Bayindir and Zirkzee had their long-awaited moments in the spotlight - too soon to rejoice in a Ruben revival?
ARSENAL VS. MAN UNITED HIGHLIGHTS
Bruno Fernandes goal vs. Man United (52nd min, Arsenal 0-1 Man United)
'One chance, one goal for the United captain!'
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 12, 2025
Deadlock broken. Manchester United are ahead!
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After all of Arsenal's wasted set-pieces and toothless attacking play, one rapid counter-attack makes the difference for the visitors, and Gabriel is the guilty party.
The Brazilian's poor header on the halfway line is straight into Alejandro Garnacho's midriff, and he slips as he tries to recover, giving the Argentine acres of space to charge into.
Can Garnacho pick the right pass? He most certainly can; the winger tees up Fernandes to rifle a wonderful first-time finish into the far side of the net.
Diogo Dalot red card (61st min, Arsenal 0-1 Man United)
'He took a risk!'
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 12, 2025
A second yellow card for Diogo Dalot and he's off!
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Man United are down to 10 and can have no complaints!
Dalot - already on a yellow card - is just beaten to the ball by Mikel Merino and wipes out the Arsenal man right in front of the home dugout.
The Portuguese defender fiercely protests his innocence, but Andy Madley has no doubt in his mind and dismisses Dalot to the fury of the visiting bench.
Gabriel Magalhaes goal vs. Man United (63rd min, Arsenal 1-1 Man United)
All square! The momentum of this one has changed very quickly.
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 12, 2025
Gabriel grabs the equaliser!
Watch the FA Cup on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport App#BBCFootball #BBCFACup #FACup pic.twitter.com/OrW5onvSMX
Man United's hour of dogged defensive work may have just been undone in a matter of minutes! Bayindir fails to properly deal with a Martinelli cross, and the ball falls at the feet of Gabriel.
The Brazilian was at fault for Fernandes's goal, but he writes his redemption arc almost immediately, as his volley takes a nick off of De Ligt and nestles into the bottom corner.
Martin Odegaard penalty miss (72nd min, Arsenal 1-1 Man United)
What a moment for Altay Bayindir! He gets down well to keep out Martin Odegaard's penalty!
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 12, 2025
This game has certainly picked up in the second half!
Watch the FA Cup on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport App#BBCFACup #FACup #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/he3n73EaR2
Is it 2003 again?
Havertz is brushed to the floor by Maguire, and Madley quickly points to the spot, but the drama is far from over; Man United are incensed at the awarding of the penalty and a full-on melee breaks out.
With no VAR in operation, an apparent headbutt from Ugarte on Havertz is not picked up, and a couple of yellow cards are dished out before Odegaard lines up the spot kick.
The Norwegian takes a stuttering run-up and shoots low to Bayindir's left, but the Turk guesses correctly and pulls off a fine save; justice probably done, as the penalty was incredibly soft.
Altay Bayindir penalty save vs. Arsenal (penalty shootout, Arsenal 1-1 Man United)
SAVED! Advantage to Manchester United!
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 12, 2025
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First blood to United in the shootout, as Havertz pauses and is thwarted by Bayindir down low to the goalkeeper's left.
Joshua Zirkzee penalty goal vs. Arsenal (penalty shootout, Arsenal 1-1 Man United)
Joshua Zirkzee keeps his cool to send Manchester United into the next round! What drama!
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 12, 2025
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As a former Newcastle United striker once said: "Pressure? What pressure?".
Hard and low from Zirkzee, Raya goes the wrong way and the away end goes delirious.
MAN OF THE MATCH - HARRY MAGUIRE
© Iconsport
We cannot not mention Bayindir's magnificence from 12 yards, but Man United likely would not have even got to spot kicks were it not for the man pictured above.
Maguire may not have produced a similar moment of defensive magic to De Ligt's astonishing goal-line clearance, but the England international proved yet again why he is a force to be reckoned with in the heart of a three-man defence.
During his 104 minutes on the pitch, Maguire registered 11 clearances, five blocks and two tackles, while also winning all four of his aerial duels and three of his four ground duels.
As for the penalty he committed, Madley will surely rewatch that one again tonight and accept he got it wrong.
ARSENAL VS. MAN UNITED MATCH STATS
Possession: Arsenal 70%-30% Man United
Shots: Arsenal 26-7 Man United
Shots on target: Arsenal 7-4 Man United
Corners: Arsenal 12-2 Man United
Fouls: Arsenal 10-25 Man United
BEST STATS
5 - Arsenal have lost five of their last six FA Cup ties, and have now been eliminated from the competition in the third round in back-to-back campaigns for the first time since 1995/1996 (v Millwall and Sheffield United). Premature. pic.twitter.com/ulN30ygHj8
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 12, 2025
1 - Altay Bayindir is the first Premier League goalkeeper on record (since 2013-14) to save a penalty in both normal time and in a penalty shootout in the same FA Cup game. Hero. pic.twitter.com/9PFSHSz7v5
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 12, 2025
9 - Bruno Fernandes is the joint-top scorer in the FA Cup since his first game in the competition (March 2020), while only Kevin De Bruyne (17) has been directly involved in more goals (14) in the same period. Whip. pic.twitter.com/ug55qYxQFB
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 12, 2025
Martin Ødegaard has failed to score a penalty for the first time in his senior career. pic.twitter.com/WApmjeNCrb
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) January 12, 2025
WHAT NEXT?
There is no respite for either set of players after Sunday's gruelling two-hour slog, and an equally tempestuous Emirates battle awaits Arsenal on Wednesday night, when Tottenham Hotspur arrive for the latest Premier League North London derby.
Meanwhile, a rejuvenated Man United face what should be a more routine test on paper on Thursday evening, hosting rock-bottom Southampton at Old Trafford.
Ben Knapton
