BREAKING NEWS ‼️ “I will never forget guy even in a hurry,He gave me tough time Today…. I’ve never seen such a performance from an opponent player in my career before”, Man United Captain Bruno Fernandez named ONE Arsenal player who was their nightmare Today.
BREAKING NEWS ‼️ “I will never forget guy even in a hurry,He gave me tough time Today…. I’ve never seen such a performance from an opponent player in my career before”, Man United Captain Bruno Fernandez named ONE Arsenal player who was their nightmare Today.
EVEN ALEXANDER ISAK SAID THIS SAME THING ABOUT HIM LAST WEEK. WE’RE SO LUCKY TO HAVE HIM GUYS.
Ten-man Manchester United beat Arsenal on penalties, reaching the fourth round of the FA Cup with a resurgent, resilient performance.
Kai Havertz missed a crucial spot-kick to give Ruben Amorim’s side a statement victory, their first at the Emirates in five years.
After a dull and disjointed first half dominated by Arsenal time-wasting from set-pieces, Alejandro Garnacho punished a Gabriel slip to burst into space and fizz a pass across to Bruno Fernandes.
United’s captain then ripped a curling first-time strike past David Raya to open the scoring, a goal United deserved as the home side still had not managed a shot on target.
And yet Diogo Dalot frittered away his side’s advantage by picking up a mindless second yellow card for a late challenge. Within two minutes, Gabriel’s twisting volley was being deflected past Altay Bayindir to level the match.
Havertz then won a cheap penalty by trailing a leg into Harry Maguire, but Martin Odegaard’s tame effort was well stopped by Bayindir.
This became fraught and tense, especially into extra time, with Declan Rice creating and missing a series of solid chances and Havertz failing to capitalise on opportunities of his own.
Arsenal player ratings
David Raya: A quiet afternoon, with nothing he could do for United’s goal. An extra-time reaction save was his only highlight, but a crucial one nonetheless. 6/10
Jurrien Timber: Safe and sharp defensively, but needs to offer more going forward, a la Ben White. Wasted an attack late in normal time with a frivolous shot. 6/10
William Saliba: Dealt with Hojlund with ease but otherwise not his best or most important performance. 6/10
Gabriel Magalhaes: Sharp reactions to score his goal, even if it was heavily deflected. Also at fault for United’s, even if that came through a slip, but the best of Arsenal’s defenders otherwise. 7/10
Myles Lewis-Skelly: Struggled to impose himself on the game, but protected the ball when it came his way. 5/10
Martin Odegaard: Dictated play and created everything good for Arsenal – and a lot of it – but missing a half-hearted penalty blotted his copybook. Should have won the match himself on a lot of levels. 7/10
Jorginho: Ticked the ball around as required. Tidy – bar a mistake early in the second half – and held this Arsenal side together. 6/10
Mikel Merino: Largely overrun by United’s midfield duo. Crafted one big chance but often felt anonymous. 5/10
Gabriel Jesus: Stretchered off in the first half after tripping into the Arsenal penalty area and fouling Fernandes. 5/10
Kai Havertz: Largely to blame for Arsenal not managing a first-half shot on target. Won the normal-time penalty, although it likely would have been overturned had VAR been in use. Missed three significant chances, and then his penalty. All-time stinker and wasted much of Odegaard’s good work. 3/10
Gabriel Martinelli: Well offside when putting the ball in the back of the net on 18 minutes – Arsenal’s most obvious threat early on but faded badly. At fault for what he didn’t do as much as Havertz was for what he did. 4/10
Substitutes
Man Utd player ratings
Altay Bayindir: Sloppy distribution, didn’t have a save to make in the first half and was then wrong-footed for Arsenal’s first. Yet he redeemed himself with a sharp penalty stop in normal time, another in the shootout and even better saves from two Rice efforts. 9/10
Matthijs de Ligt: Grew into the game and excelled in extra time, particularly clearing off the line from Havertz. The odd wayward pass but otherwise very solid. 8/10
Harry Maguire: Suits the heart of this back three perfectly. Got rid of everything which came his way and even made the odd marauding run forward. Stitched up for the penalty and vindicated by the miss. 8/10
Lisandro Martinez: Came close to picking up two yellow cards in the first-half alone. Some risky defending late on but it paid off. 7/10
Noussair Mazraoui: Looked much better when moved over to the left in the second half after an anonymous first. Moved back to a traditional right-back after Dalot’s red and defended well. 6/10
Manuel Ugarte: Put a leveller on Martin Odegaard in the first six minutes which set the tone for United’s physicality. Much better off the ball than on it. 6/10
Kobbie Mainoo: Had the only real shot on target of the first half and continued his impressive development alongside Ugarte. 7/10
Diogo Dalot: Made his evisceration of Trent Alexander-Arnold last Sunday feel like a fever dream. Struggled to keep hold of the ball and then got himself sent off for two yellows. Cheap and moronic. 3/10
Alejandro Garnacho: Threatened to punish every Arsenal mistake with his directness and pace, especially in the second half. A sharp run and pass to set up Fernandes. 7/10
Bruno Fernandes: Started off too wide and isolated, but moved inside to great effect. Finished his goal with beautiful accuracy. 7/10
Rasmus Hojlund: Didn’t manage a shot all game. Hold-up play and movement were functional but looks painfully short of confidence or purpose. 4/10
