Before focusing on United’s next match against Leicester, let’s take a moment to appreciate their impressive third-round victory over Arsenal.
United handled Arsenal’s physical, set-piece-heavy approach well, securing a 1-1 draw in normal time and triumphing 5-4 on penalties. Every player contributed, but here are the top five standout performers.
Winners
Altay Bayindir
United’s backup goalkeeper stepped up with Andre Onana rested. Despite a rough game against Tottenham last month, Bayindir proved his worth by saving a crucial penalty from Martin Odegaard in normal time and stopping Kai Havertz in the shootout. His performance justified Amorim’s decision to start him and revitalized his United career.
Matthijs de Ligt
Although Harry Maguire also had a solid game, de Ligt stood out. After a tough outing at Anfield last week, he redeemed himself with a crucial clearance to prevent Leandro Trossard from scoring. His performance showed resilience and composure.
Leny Yoro
Teenager Leny Yoro impressed again, stepping up confidently to convert a penalty in the shootout. This moment marked a significant milestone in his young United career, following his excellent late tackle against Liverpool last week. He continues to challenge the senior defenders for a starting spot.
Bruno Fernandes
The United captain led by example, avoiding unnecessary cards and playing with discipline. He opened the scoring with a well-placed goal early in the second half and set the tone in the shootout with a calm, precise penalty.
Joshua Zirkzee
After struggling at Old Trafford two weeks ago, Zirkzee bounced back against Arsenal. Coming on as a second-half substitute, he worked tirelessly, tested David Raya in extra time, and linked up well with teammates. His moment of redemption came when he scored the winning penalty in the shootout, sparking celebrations.
One big loser
Kai Havertz
Arsenal’s Kai Havertz had a game to forget. He won a dubious penalty by diving, angering United players, and then missed multiple chances during the match. To make matters worse, he was the only player to miss in the shootout, with Bayindir making an easy save. It was a disappointing performance from the German forward, who continues to struggle as Arsenal’s main attacking option.
