Mikel Arteta was left frustrated after Arsenal’s dramatic FA Cup third-round exit at the hands of Manchester United in a penalty shootout at the Emirates Stadium. Despite playing against 10 men for over 30 minutes, the Gunners’ lack of cutting-edge upfront and a reliance on sideways and backward passing left fans questioning their ability to close games.
United took the lead through Bruno Fernandes in the 52nd minute, but their momentum was halted when Diogo Dalot was sent off for a reckless tackle on Mikel Merino just nine minutes later. Arsenal equalized through Gabriel Magalhães in the 63rd minute and looked poised to dominate. Instead, the game turned into a frustrating display of possession without purpose, as Arsenal struggled to create real attacking threats.
The Gunners had 26 shots but failed to make their numerical advantage count. Key moments, like Martin Ødegaard’s missed penalty in the 72nd minute and Kai Havertz’s two wasted chances, summed up the night. When the game went to penalties, Havertz’s luck ran out again, with his spot-kick saved by Altay Bayindir. United’s Joshua Zirkzee stepped up to seal the win, leaving Arsenal to rue their missed opportunities.
“It’s hard to explain,” Arteta told the BBC. “We dominated possession, but we lacked that attacking spark. For all the time we spent in their half, we didn’t create enough real chances. You can’t win games like that. In a thousand games, you’d only lose one, and somehow it was tonight. It’s a bitter lesson we need to learn.”
This isn’t the first time Arsenal’s inability to close down games has cost them recently. Despite their creative midfield, the sideways and backward passing has been a recurring issue, allowing opponents to regroup and defend comfortably.
Now, with the FA Cup dream over, Arsenal must regroup quickly for their Premier League showdown with Tottenham on Wednesday. Fans will hope for a more aggressive and decisive performance as the Gunners look to reignite their season.
The question remains: Can Arsenal find the killer instinct needed to turn dominance into victories? Wednesday’s north London derby could provide the perfect stage for redemption.
