Ten-man Manchester United saw off Arsenal in a penalty shootout at the Emirates to book their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Bruno Fernandes fired United ahead after 52 minutes before Diogo Dalot was sent off on the hour mark following a wild challenge on Mikel Merino.
Gabriel equalised for Arsenal two minutes after Dalot’s dismissal, with Martin Odegaard denied by United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir from the penalty spot.
Bayindir, in just his fifth appearance for United, then pulled off a number of saves to keep his side in the tie, before he denied Kai Havertz in the shootout as United recorded a 5-3 win to send Arsenal crashing out at the first hurdle.
The two clubs have won 27 FA Cups between them and they served up a classic here that came alive following a tepid first half – where Gabriel Jesus added to Arsenal’s injury woes when he was taken off on a stretcher with a knee problem.
The second period was just seven minutes old when Gabriel’s abject header allowed Alejandro Garnacho a clear run at the backtracking Arsenal defence. His pass found Fernandes and, on the run, the United captain’s wonderful curling effort flew beyond David Raya.
Arsenal needed a quick response, and Havertz should have fired the Gunners level. But, just as in his side’s midweek defeat here by Newcastle in the Carabao Cup, he fluffed his lines. Mikel Merino found the German unmarked in the six-yard box. Havertz’s first touch was fine but he scuffed his shot wide.
Then, out of nowhere, a lifeline for the Gunners. Ruben Amorim’s men were in control of the fixture but Dalot, already on a booking, flew in recklessly on Merino, and when he missed the ball and took out the man, there was only going to be one outcome – a second yellow. United were down to 10 men on the hour mark.
And less than two minutes later, Arsenal had their equaliser. Bayindir punched Gabriel Martinelli’s cross clear, but the ball fell to Gabriel and, on the half-turn, the defender thrashed a shot on goal, deflecting off Matthijs de Ligt’s toes and into the net.
The dynamic of the game had changed in the blink of an eye, and a rampant Arsenal went in search of a winner. Raheem Sterling drove into the box and found Havertz, who was apparently blocked off by Harry Maguire. Havertz went down and referee Andrew Madley crouched over and pointed to the spot.
It was a soft penalty, but there was no VAR to intervene. A wild melee ensued with Maguire and Havertz involved in a heated exchange of words before the German went down clutching his head after a face-off with Manuel Ugarte. Maguire needed to be restrained by his team-mates before he, Havertz and Gabriel were all booked after the rough and tumble.
