FA Cup
Arsenal defeat to Manchester United one in 1,000, says defiant Mikel Arteta
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he could not be prouder of his players despite crashing out of the FA Cup to 10-man Manchester United on penalties on Jan 12.
The Gunners enjoyed a man advantage for over an hour after Diogo Dalot was booked twice early in the second half.
Bruno Fernandes had fired United in front but Arsenal levelled within seconds of Dalot’s departure through Gabriel Magalhaes.
However, a familiar lack of killer instinct in front of goal cost Arteta’s men as another chance to end a five-year trophy drought slipped by.
Martin Odegaard saw a penalty saved by Altay Bayindir before Kai Havertz and Declan Rice missed huge chances to win the tie in 90 minutes.
After a goalless 30 minutes of extra time, Havertz was the only player who failed to score in the shoot-out as United’s reserve goalkeeper Bayindir made another splendid save.
“It was unbelievable,” said Arteta. “(Based on) the performance we deserved to win the game by a mile, but the reality is that we are out and the only thing we will be judged on is that.”
Arsenal have finished second to Manchester City in each of the past two Premier League seasons.
But they have so far failed to live up to expectations this campaign to kick on to another level.
Arsenal trail Liverpool, who also have a game in hand, by six points in the Premier League title race and were beaten 2-0 at home by Newcastle in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final.
Arteta, though, launched a passionate defence of his squad with one eye on the north London derby against Tottenham on Jan 15.
“I love my players, I love our team and I love how good they are,” added the Spaniard.
“In 1,000 games (like this) you lose one and it was this one. But it is part of our industry, our game and we move on because we don’t have time and on Wednesday we have a massive one.”
Victory was another sign of progress for United boss Ruben Amorim after his side came from behind to secure a 2-2 draw at Liverpool last weekend.
The Red Devils had to defend for long spells even before going down to 10 men.
“We have to compete no matter what the situation and we competed today,” said Amorim.
“They had more chances but I think we deserved to win the way we played and the way we fought.”
United’s reward for reaching round four is a meeting with a familiar face as Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy returns to Old Trafford.
The Dutchman took charge for four matches as caretaker boss prior to Amorim’s arrival in November.
Amorim decided against retaining Van Nistelrooy as part of his coaching staff but said he is looking forward to speaking again to United’s legendary former striker.
“I’m looking forward to speaking with him. He’s a class guy,” added Amorim.
“But we need to win! Maybe he will be divided – he loves this club!”
-AFP
Arsenal survived a genuine scare in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday as they edged past spirited third-tier Mansfield Town 2-1, with Eberechi Eze’s thunderbolt sending the Premier League leaders into the quarter-finals.
Noni Madueke gave Arsenal the lead going into halftime at Field Mill, but Will Evans equalised for Nigel Clough’s Mansfield before Eze scored in the 66th minute to ensure the top-flight side progressed to the last eight.
“Happy to score. I had the space and the opportunity to shoot. So I took it,” Eze told TNT Sports.
“It was a difficult environment to play in. But we did what we had to do and we are through to the next round, which is the important thing.”
Mikel Arteta named a much-changed side, starting teenagers Max Dowman and Marli Salmon, as Arsenal became the first Premier League side to start a competitive game with two players aged 16 or under in any competition.
However, Arteta’s changes nearly backfired as the hosts, feeding off a raucous home crowd, gave Arsenal a genuine fright with aggressive pressing and infectious energy that clearly unsettled the visitors.
“Before the game, the gaffer said, ‘Have a go. We were not expected to win the game, so have a go and enjoy it,” Mansfield forward Rhys Oates said.
“We created more chances than we thought we could, and we have given them a game.”
Dowman, Arsenal’s youngest-ever FA Cup player at 16, emerged as a lively attacking threat as the top-flight side gradually found their rhythm before Madueke broke the deadlock in the 41st minute.
Madueke, who had an initial shot saved, curled a powerful finish into the far corner to give Arsenal their 100th goal of the season in all competitions.
Clough brought on Evans for the second half, and the Welsh striker made an immediate impact, netting five minutes after coming on.
The 28-year-old wrong-footed a second-guessing Cristhian Mosquera before finishing past Kepa Arrizabalaga in Arsenal’s goal.
“It’s typical, isn’t it? For me to have a league goal drought and then come on for a half against Arsenal and have a goal against them,” Evans said.
Arsenal were rattled but recovered and found the winner when substitute Eze made space for himself and fired a powerful shot from the edge of the box to silence the crowd at Field Mill and keep Arsenal’s quadruple bid on track.
-Reuters
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Chelsea’s Alejandro Garnacho and Joao Pedro struck in extra time to secure a nervy 4–2 win over second‑tier Wrexham and reach the FA Cup quarter‑finals on Saturday as the Premier League giants escaped from the Racecourse Ground after a tough battle.
Garnacho volleyed home from close range in the 97th minute with such force that the ball ricocheted off the back stanchion to give Chelsea the lead for the first time on the night.
Wrexham — who lost George Dobson to a 93rd-minute red card — thought they had equalised deep into added time in the extra period when Lewis Brunt headed home, but he was offside. Pedro then sealed Chelsea’s win with a fine goal in the 125th minute.
Sam Smith had put the Championship side ahead in the 18th when he sprinted onto Callum Doyle’s long pass, took a touch and fired past Robert Sanchez. Chelsea equalised with a huge slice of luck when George Thomason’s attempt to clear Garnacho’s shot struck goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo and rolled in.
Wrexham went back in front after 78 minutes when Doyle diverted the ball past Sanchez after Ryan Longman fired it back into the area from a corner. But Josh Acheampong equalised soon after with a blistering shot into the roof of the net after Dobson slipped to send the game into extra time.
-Reuters
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Arsenal will visit League One Mansfield Town, while Manchester City travel to Newcastle United in a mouth-watering all-Premier League tie following the FA Cup fifth round draw on Monday.
Third-tier Mansfield stunned top-flight strugglers Burnley 2-1 at Turf Moor on Saturday and have been rewarded with a clash against 14-time winners and Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Pep Guardiola’s City face Newcastle in a repeat of one of this season’s League Cup semi-finals, while Premier League bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers host Liverpool.
Brentford head to West Ham United after an own goal away to sixth-tier Macclesfield, who stunned holders Crystal Palace in the last round, giving them a 1-0 win on Monday.
Championship side Wrexham welcome eight-time winners Chelsea, while Fulham entertain Southampton and Leeds United host another second-tier side in Norwich City.
Sunderland face a second successive away trip after being drawn against Port Vale or Bristol City, whose fourth-round tie has been postponed until March 3 due to a waterlogged pitch.
FA Cup fifth round draw
- Fulham v Southampton
- Port Vale or Bristol City v Sunderland
- Newcastle United v Manchester City
- Leeds United v Norwich City
- Mansfield Town v Arsenal
- Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool
- Wrexham v Chelsea
- West Ham United v Brentford
Matches to be played over the weekend of March 7–8
-Reuters
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