Manchester United began their FA Cup defence with a thrilling penalty shootout win over Arsenal, a clash between the competition’s most successful club and the reigning champions. The two sides met on Sunday, with Arsenal hosting at the Emirates. It marked a chance for United to showcase their progress under Ruben Amorim, whose first loss as head coach had come against the Gunners in December. After a subdued first half, the match roared to life after the interval. Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring before United were reduced to 10 men when Diogo Dalot received a red card. Gabriel quickly levelled for Arsenal, but despite intense action throughout extra time, neither team could find a winner. The Red Devils triumphed in the resulting penalty shootout to advance to the FA Cup fourth round. Here are four key takeaways from the match.
Bayindir Redeems Himself
Ruben Amorim confirmed pre-match that Altay Bayindir would start in goal, keeping faith with the Turkish keeper despite a poor showing against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup. Bayindir endured a shaky start, frequently misplacing passes, but he recovered admirably to deliver a stellar performance. His second-half penalty save kept United in the match, and he produced a string of exceptional stops during the shootout to seal the win. This was a crucial step forward for the 26-year-old, whose future at the club looks brighter if he maintains this level.
Garnacho Shines in Rashford’s Absence
With Marcus Rashford’s future at the club uncertain, Alejandro Garnacho seized his opportunity to shine. The Argentine winger, reportedly linked with interest from other clubs, showed why Amorim has faith in his potential. Garnacho set up Fernandes’ opener and now boasts eight goals and five assists across all competitions this season, making this his most productive campaign to date. His dynamism and creativity were instrumental against Arsenal, suggesting he will play a key role for United going forward.
United Display ‘Mad Dog’ Mentality
Amorim’s demand for his players to run like “mad dogs” was evident throughout this encounter, particularly after United went down to 10 men. The team showed incredible resilience under relentless Arsenal pressure. Every player fought tirelessly, embodying the grit and determination Amorim has been instilling. This was a stark contrast to their mentality against Liverpool, leaving both the manager and supporters with much to celebrate.
Set-Piece Improvements
United’s vulnerabilities at set pieces were evident in their previous defeat to Arsenal, where both goals came from corners. Amorim highlighted this issue and made defensive set-pieces a priority in training. Arsenal once again looked to exploit corners in this match, but United coped far better. While there is room for improvement on both attacking and defensive set pieces, this performance was a clear sign of progress under Amorim’s coaching. Manchester United’s victory over Arsenal not only secured their place in the FA Cup fourth round but also highlighted their growth as a team and it will be very important for the Devils to continue improving week in, week out.