Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal in the FA Cup third round was a throwback to the iconic battles between the two teams’ managers, Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson. The Red Devils overcame several absent players, including primary penalty taker Bukayo Saka, to claim victory 5-3 on penalties.
The match began with a red card and contentious penalty decision, reminiscent of the intense rivalry in the past. Ruud van Nistelrooy’s penalty-taking exploits during his time at Manchester United were a fitting precursor to Mikel Arteta’s first meeting with the team as opponent.
Arsenal manager Arteta was left without several key players, including Jorginho and Bukayo Saka, while Manchester United had Casemiro and Christian Eriksen on the bench. The goalkeepers, David Raya and Altay Bayindir, also received coaching input from their respective staffs.
The shootout saw a notable trend: the team that takes their penalty first tends to win around 60% of the time. Bruno Fernandes chose to take his penalties in front of the traveling fans, which some argue can give an advantage. However, Fernandes’ focus and determination helped him score from the spot.
Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard and Joshua Zirkzee both converted their penalties before United took the lead with Lisandro Martinez’s stutter-step technique. The match ended 1-1 after extra time, setting up a tense penalty shootout.
In the end, Manchester United emerged victorious, thanks in part to Zirkzee’s redemption goal.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6056170/2025/01/12/arsenal-man-united-penalties