FA CUP 

ARSENAL 1 (Gabriel 63)

MAN U 1 (Fernandes 52, Dalot red card 61)

MAN U WIN 5-3 PENS AET

MANCHESTER United dumped Arsenal out of the FA Cup after playing with ten men for an hour at the Emirates.

The Gunners failed to put the game to bed despite dominating possession, notching 26 shots and 12 corners.

Once again the key stat was shots on target, with just seven forcing a save from this self-doubting frontline that was once again exposed for all to see.

Kai Havertz was shocking, and it was no surprise to see his dribbly penalty saved in the shootout.

Knives already out for Mikel Arteta are being sharpened ahead of Tottenham’s visit on Wednesday, as a season that promised so much looks to be all but over in January.

Arteta said: “We go home extremely sad but I cannot be prouder of my players, the team, individually, collectively what they have produced, on Wednesday night against Newcastle, against two top teams, it’s incredible.

“We haven’t got rewarded and that’s the downside to it.”

The match began in typical fashion with Arsenal controlling the game and trying to pick their way through two banks of defence.

Gabi Martinelli slotted in after a intricate passing move, but a late flag denied him the opener.

It took 25 minutes for United to get their first shot away – Kobi Mainoo forcing a comfortable diving save from David Raya.

Alejandro Garnacho also forced a straight forward save after a counter attack in a first half that saw Arsenal dominate the ball but rarely threaten.

There were big shouts for a freekick to Man U after Fernandes went down under pressure from Jesus right on the D.

Jesus looked to jar his left knee in the tangle and had to be taken off in a stretcher – the latest injury to the Gunners already thin frontline.

After the match, Arteta said: “It’s not looking good.”

He was replaced by Rahim Sterling who looks a complete shadow of his former self.

Bruno Fernandes slammed home a well taken first time finish after a slip by Gabriel freed up space for Garnacho to race into.

Havertz arguably topped his incredible shouldered header in the Newcastle game, when he skied over from about six yards.

Once again, it looked easier to hit the target than miss it.

Diogo Dalot was sent off for a second yellow after Martinelli drew a foul from him.

There seemed like light at the end of the tunnel. But fans were still looking blankly at each other wondering not just who was going to score, but how?

A deflection or a corner goal looked most likely.

And so it came with Gabriel’s shot skewing off Martinez and past the Bayindr.

Martin Odegaard saw his well struck penalty to the far right corner saved after Havertz had been judged to be fouled in the box.

VAR – not being used in the FA Cup – may well have ruled it out with the contact minimal.

Man U’s had a huge ticket allocation and had taken over the entire lower tier wrapping right round the “Clock End”, and unusually flanked the press box.

The away fans were furious with the referee and also complaining spat to stewards about being spat on from fans in the Club Level seats above them.

They sung endlessly about Robin Van Persie and the “knob ‘ed” ref Andy Madley.

Declan Rice had three big chances including a soft header that was easily palmed away by the increasingly confident keeper, taking his moment after being preferred over Onana.

Havertz was bungling about throughout extra time and Leandro Trossard and Thomas Partey were thrown on but failed to make a difference.

In the closing stages, United looked more likely to score with Zirkzee forcing a great save from Raya  and an Amad header whistling wide.

Arsenal played in the anti knife crime white “No More Red” kit.

Arsenal: Raya, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber (Partey 100), Lewis-Skelly, Jorginho (Tierney 113), Merino (Rice 73), Havertz, Odegaard, Martinelli, Jesus (Sterling 40)
Subs not used: Neto, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Trossard, Butler-Oyedeji,

Man U: Bayindr, Mazraoui, de Ligt, Maguire (Yoro 104), Martinez, Dalot, Ugarte (Malacia 83), Mainoo (Collyer 81), Fernandes, Garnacho (Amad 81), Hojlund (Zirkzee 81)
Subs not used: Onana, Eriksen, Casemiro, Antony

Attendance 60021