Arteta's Arsenal Stunned by United in FA Cup Penalty Shootout

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his disbelief that his team couldn't secure a victory against 10-man Manchester United in their FA Cup third round match on Sunday. The game ended in a 1-1 draw after extra time, and Arsenal was eliminated on penalties.

The hosts equalized after falling behind, with Gabriel scoring to cancel out Bruno Fernandes' opener, following Diogo Dalot's red card for United. Arsenal could have taken the lead with a contentious penalty, but captain Martin Odegaard's attempt was saved by Altay Bayindir, who also denied Kai Havertz during the shootout, sending United through to the next round.

Arsenal had several opportunities to clinch the win, including a missed chance by Havertz in the final minutes of regular time. Arteta couldn't hide his frustration at the outcome. "It's incredible not to win the game," he told reporters. "We dominated and were superior to the opposition, but we didn't get what we deserved. There’s an element of putting the ball in the back of the net, and despite our chances, we only managed to do it once. We're going home very sad, but I couldn't be prouder of my players."

Heading into the match, Arsenal was unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League games and had reduced Liverpool's lead to six points, despite having played one more match. However, their FA Cup exit, coupled with a recent 2-0 loss to Newcastle in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final, dims their hopes for silverware this season.


Next, Arsenal will host local rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday. Arteta downplayed the pressure following two consecutive cup defeats, emphasizing that his focus remains on the quality of their performances.

In a concerning moment, Gabriel Jesus was stretchered off in the first half due to significant discomfort. Arteta expressed worry over the Brazil forward's condition, stating, "That's a big concern for me. He left the field in a lot of pain, touching his knee, and it doesn’t look good."