By Axel Reyes
Manchester United's celebrations were short-lived as a dramatic ten-minute period turned the game on its head at the Emirates Stadium. After Bruno Fernandes had given the Red Devils the lead, a series of unfortunate events and questionable refereeing decisions saw Arsenal snatch a late equalizer and force the game into extra time.
The drama began when Diogo Dalot was sent off for a reckless challenge, leaving United a man down. Just two minutes later, Arsenal capitalized on the numerical advantage, with Gabriel firing home a deflected effort from a set piece. The goal was a blow to United, who had looked comfortable until that point.
To add insult to injury, the referee awarded Arsenal a penalty for a perceived foul by Harry Maguire on Kai Havertz. Replays suggested that there was minimal contact, but with no VAR in place, the decision stood. Maguire was furious and confronted Havertz, accusing the German of diving.
However, karma appeared to be on United's side as Martin Odegaard's resulting penalty was saved by the impressive Altay Bayindir. The Turkish goalkeeper produced a string of fine saves in the remaining minutes of normal time and extra time, denying Declan Rice and watching in disbelief as Havertz somehow missed an open goal from close range.
The penalty shootout proved to be a nerve-wracking affair, but United held their nerve to progress to the next round. Joshua Zirkzee, who has faced criticism since his arrival at Old Trafford, scored the winning penalty and celebrated in front of the stunned Arsenal fans.
The match was a rollercoaster of emotions for Manchester United fans. After taking the lead, they looked set to cruise to victory, but a series of unfortunate events turned the game on its head. The red card for Dalot was a turning point, and the penalty decision was highly controversial.
However, United showed great resilience to fight back and win the penalty shootout. Bayindir's performance was outstanding, and Zirkzee's winning penalty will do wonders for his confidence.
The victory over Arsenal was a testament to Manchester United's fighting spirit. Despite facing adversity, the Red Devils found a way to win. However, the performance highlighted some defensive frailties that will need to be addressed if they are to challenge for major honors this season.
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