Altay Bayindir is penalty shoot-out hero as Man United beat Arsenal in FA Cup

Goalkeeper pulls off string of brilliant saves to send holders into fourth round

Goalkeeper Altay Bayindir celebrates after saving Kai Havertz's shoot-out penalty during Manchester United's FA Cup third-round win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on January 12, 2025. The game finished 1-1 after extra-time with United winning the shoot-out 5-3. Reuters

United attacker Joshua Zirkzee celebrates after scoring the match-winning penalty in the shoot-out. Getty Images

A dejected Kai Havertz after the match following his shoot-out miss. Reuters

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice shoots for goal but his effort is saved. AFP

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice reacts after his shot was saved by United keeper Altay Bayindir. AFP

Manchester United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir saves a penalty from Martin Odegaard of Arsenal. Reuters

Arsenal's Kai Havertz misses an opportunity to win the game late on after shooting over bar. PA

Martin Odegaard misses from the penalty spot for Arsenal. Getty Images

United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir saves a penalty from Arsenal's Martin Odegaard. Getty Images

United and Arsenal players clash after the home side were awarded a penalty for an apparent foul on Kai Havertz. Getty Images

Tempers flare between Manchester United defender Harry Maguire and Kai Havertz after Arsenal were awarded a penalty. PA

Gabriel shoots for Arsenal as his effort takes a big deflection off Matthijs de Ligt before finding the back of the net to make it 1-1. Getty Images

Gabriel celebrates after scoring for Arsenal in the 63rd minute. Getty Images

Manchester United show their disbelief after Diogo Dalot is shown a red card by referee Andrew Madley. PA

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes celebrates after scoring to put his team 1-0 up. AP

United midfielder Bruno Fernandes opens the scoring in the 52nd minute. Reuters

Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus goes down injured during the first half. PA

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes argues with referee Andy Madley after he was shown a yellow card for fouling Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus. AFP

Gabriel Martinelli scores for Arsenal but the goal was disallowed for offside. EPA

Arsenal attacker Gabriel Jesus is carried off the pitch on a stretcher. AP

Turkish reserve goalkeeper Altay Bayindir was the hero as 10-man Manchester United knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup after a penalty shoot-out at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

United's second-string keeper saved a spot kick from Kai Havertz, who missed a host of chances throughout the game, in the shoot-out to send the FA Cup holders into the fourth round. It was only Bayindir's fifth appearance for United.

With the game level at 1-1 after extra time, the visitors won the toss in the shoot-out and captain Bruno Fernandes stepped up first to send Arsenal keeper David Raya the wrong way in front of the visiting fans.

Martin Odegaard then made amends for an earlier penalty miss to haul Arsenal level and Amad scored to put United back ahead before Bayindir thwarted Havertz.

Leny Yoro scored a nerveless penalty for the visitors before Declan Rice made it 3-2. Lisandro Martinez then sent Raya the wrong way before Thomas Partey made it 4-3.

Substitute Joshua Zirkzee was handed the chance to win the tie and he made no mistake as the holders secured their passage through to the next stage after prevailing 5-3 on penalties.

Ruben Amorim's side will now face former United hero Ruud van Nistelrooy's Leicester City at Old Trafford on the weekend of February 8.

Bayindir, who had been at fault for Arsenal's equaliser after 63 minutes, redeemed himself by producing a man-of-the-match performance.

He pulled off a string of fine saves after United had been reduced to 10 men, including a brilliant penalty stop to deny Odegaard in normal time.

“He's a good guy, he works a lot and life has beautiful things. A few weeks ago we were suffering through a difficult moment but now he's like a hero for us,” Amorim said of Bayandir's performance.

The visitors had seen wing-back Diogo Dalot sent off just after the hour-mark for a second yellow card after a rash sliding tackle that upended Arsenal's Mikel Merino.

United had been forced to defend deep and try to hit Arsenal on the break as the home side controlled possession early in the game.

The Gunners thought they had gone ahead after 19 minutes when Gabriel Martinelli had the ball in the back of the net before being flagged offside.

Then, against the run of play, United took the lead with a slick counter-attacking move in the 52nd minute.

A cross-field ball from Harry Maguire was headed on by Dalot with Alejandro Garnacho punishing a slip by Gabriel to charge down the right wing and find skipper Fernandes, who hit a superb, curling shot on the run into the top corner.

But two minutes after Dalot's red card, the Gunners were level.

Bayindir flapped at a free kick from the left and Gabriel pounced on the loose ball with a scissor kick that deflected in off Matthijs de Ligt.

But Bayandir then redeemed himself with a brilliant save to deny Odegaard from the penalty spot.

The kick was awarded as Havertz took a tumble in the box after minimal contact from Maguire.

Referee Andy Madley immediately pointed to the spot and, with no VAR in operation, the decision stood.

It was met by protests from the incensed United players and it sparked a melee that led to three yellow cards being waved.

Odegaard, though, couldn't make the visitors pay as his well-struck penalty was brilliantly pushed away by Bayindir.

The keeper then made an equally spectacular save to deny substitute Declan Rice shortly afterwards and United, looking to build on their 2-2 draw with Premier League leaders Liverpool, showed huge character to take the game into extra time.

After the match Bayindir told the BBC: “I just help my team. I am working everyday. I am patient. I just want to help this great team. I want to make everyone happy for this great club. I'm working here every day.

“If you are not playing it doesn't matter. You have to be ready every minute, every second, if you are a Man Utd player you have to be ready always.

“[Ruben Amorim] is talking with us every day and he wants to help us. We love him and he's always trying to do his best. He has a very good relationship with the players and we are trusting him, he is trusting us. We are fighting together.”

Amorim said: “Thankfully the players were there, they fight, sometimes not tactical or technical, it’s this.

“We have to compete, no matter what. They had more chances, but we deserved the win, Arsenal didn’t deserve to lose, but we deserved to win, it was really tough, we didn’t have the ball and controlled without the ball.

“Thank you to the fans, it was unbelievable, I didn’t understand it was all that area for us. I think for the next game, they’re really tired, we’ll see.”