Arsenal’s struggles continued as they were eliminated from the FA Cup third round by 10-man Manchester United in a dramatic penalty shootout at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday night. Following a 1-1 draw in regular and extra time, Mikel Arteta’s side fell short in the shootout, losing 5-3.

The match began cautiously, with both teams failing to score in a goalless first half. However, the intensity picked up in the second half. Manchester United took the lead in the 52nd minute through a strike by Bruno Fernandes. Arsenal responded just 11 minutes later when Gabriel Magalhães equalized, setting the stage for a tense finish.

United’s goalkeeper, Altay Bayındır, proved to be the hero of the night. In the 72nd minute, he denied Martin Ødegaard's penalty attempt, keeping United in the game. His brilliance continued in the shootout as he saved a crucial penalty from Kai Havertz, securing the victory for his team.

Despite dominating possession for 70% of the match and attempting 26 shots with seven on target, Arsenal failed to convert their chances into a win. In contrast, United managed only seven shots, with four on target, yet held their nerve in the shootout. United scored all five of their penalty kicks, while Arsenal managed to convert only three.

The defeat marked Arsenal’s third consecutive match without a win, following a 1-1 draw with Brighton in the league and a 2-0 loss to Newcastle in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final. While the new year began promisingly for Arsenal with a victory over Brentford, their form has since taken a sharp downturn, adding to their mounting frustrations.

Manchester United, with this victory, advanced to the FA Cup fourth round, leaving Arsenal to focus on turning their season around in other competitions.