With Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson in the dugout, you're guaranteed box office football, thrilling entertainment, and two teams vying for success as Arsenal take on Manchester United.
The fixtures were arguably the biggest rivalry in English football for just over 20 years, but have undoubtedly lost their edge over time amid on-pitch struggles for both sides.
However, January 12, 2025 could be the date when all that changes, as a result of a thrilling FA Cup match that saw United knock out Arsenal on penalties after 120 minutes of play.
Altay Binder is a name that will be on United fans' lips, having saved a penalty from Martin Odegaard in normal time and making countless sprawling saves before denying Kai Havertz in the shootout.
How the game unfolded
The tense atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium was surprisingly rewarded with an unimpressive and quiet first half that saw Gabriel Jesus potentially suffer a knee injury. infection Shadow procedures.
A disallowed goal scored by namesake Gabriel Martinelli just after the quarter-hour mark was the first ever incident – the Brazilian was ruled offside before he slotted the ball into the back of Bender's net – but Arsenaldespite being roared by the home faithful, failed to maintain any sort of momentum.
Odegaard looked bright at times, but struggled to break down a well-organised United defense that was comfortable against an Arsenal side lacking the quality of Bukayo Saka down the right flank.
Kobe Maino had United's first effort on target, forcing David Raya to get down smartly and tip his shot from 25 yards out, before Lisandro Martinez picked up the first yellow card of the game after clashing with Jesus – a close encounter that may have indirectly led to his goal. Subsequent knee injury.
Bruno Fernandes was also booked for dissent, in response to a clash with Jesus that eventually resulted in the 27-year-old being carried off on a stretcher with his shirt concealing the pain on his face.
Half-time analysis of today's match trio of Gary Lineker, Theo Walcott and Micah Richards Along with a cup of tea and a McVitie's Digestive Milk Chocolate, he hadn't had enough time before the match suddenly burst into life.
Alejandro Garnacho emerged from a 50/50 clash with Gabriel on the halfway line with the ball and raced into the Arsenal area. argentinian striker, He was called up when Amad Diallo was on the benchthen played a precise ball across the area to the onrushing Fernandes, who slotted home a stunning goal to send 8,000 United fans flying.
At that stage, Arsenal were undoubtedly the second best team, but Diogo Dalot's sending off for a second yellow card – for a ridiculous lunge at a loose ball – gifted the most successful team in the competition (14 wins) a way back into the game. No sooner had Dalot come down the tunnel than Gabriel Magalhaes equalized – the goal-loving centre-back taking advantage of Binder's weak punch to fire a low shot into the net by deflecting off the boot of Matthijs de Ligt.
After that, Binder took center stage as his somewhat mediocre performance in the first 70 minutes of the game was replaced by something resembling Peter Schmeichel.
Firstly, after Harry Maguire was adjudged to have fouled Havertz in the box, he blocked Odegaard's penalty, before being denied by substitute Declan Rice with a stunning penalty kick over the bar. Havertz then inexplicably put the ball over the bar from close range, as Arsenal sought to extend the advantage of its players, and Binder Rice was denied again before the end of normal time.
A brilliant last-gasp clearance from De Ligt prevented substitute Leandro Trossard from scoring as extra time began, while at the other end, Raya, a virtual spectator since Fernandes' goal, descended brilliantly to save substitute Joshua Zirkzee's deflected shot into the net. The beginning of the second is 15 minutes.
Neither team could find a winner, leading to a penalty shootout, and Bender was once again the hero as he ensured Havertz had a memorable game for all the wrong reasons. United scored all five of their penalties from the shootout, with Zirkzee taking the honor of sending the defending champions into the fourth round.
Penalty kicks
Check out the player ratings for Arsenal 1-1 Manchester United (3-5 kicks) here.
Nothing beats a bit of controversy, especially when it comes to a heavyweight clash as two of the most successful clubs in England.
With VAR not being used in the third round of the tournament FA Cupit was up to the field officials to have the final arbiter of every decision. In the 17th minute of the match, there was a decision on whether Gabriel Martinelli was offside or not before he shot the ball into United's net.
The Brazilian was a yard away, that much is clear, but the controversial element was whether Harry Maguire's attempt to cut off Odegaard's through ball was an attempt to play the ball or just a deflection.
Had it been the former, Martinelli would have been flagged as offside, but the linesman on the near touchline chose the latter – much to the dismay of Mikel Arteta as he shouted into the fourth official's ear: “It's not possible.”
Unfortunately, for the Spaniard, that was possible and no goal call stood.
Bender played 145 games in all competitions for Turkish giants Fenerbahce – certainly a large enough sample for United to decide whether or not to cut the mustard in England.
The 26-year-old was deliberately signed as a replacement for Andre Onana, but has made just four appearances for the Red Devils – three of which have come this season. Carabao Cup. Judging by his kicking ability – or apparent lack of it – and his initial clearance whenever the ball reaches the penalty area from the air, he has some work to do.
Indeed, if Amorim was keen to give Bender the benefit of the doubt due to a disastrous display with his feet, he was unlikely to be so kind when his cross shot that led directly to Gabriel's equalizer was blocked.
but.
While all of the above was bad, what he produced in the final 20 minutes of normal time was nothing short of amazing. First, Bender deftly dropped down to his left to keep away Odegaard's penalty – the first time the Norwegian had missed a penalty in senior football – before showing cat-like reflexes to deny Declan Rice's header from close range. Yes, the England midfielder put it within his reach, but it was a great stop nonetheless.
Binder then pressured Havertz to send the ball over the bar, then again denied Rice with a late left-foot shot around the post.
In the penalty shootout, he guessed the right way to deny Havertz again, as he went from zero to hero in the blink of an eye.
There was a time when it looked like Harry Maguire's Manchester United career was over. Away from the team and away from opportunities, he was still cringing at his high pay package.
But in Amorim's familiar back three – a formation in which Maguire starred alongside Gareth Southgate while playing for England – the 31-year-old looks right at home. With De Ligt and Martinez in attendance, he made nine defensive movements in the first half alone, cleared the ball five times and won four of the four duels he played. He also rose like a salmon to come up empty on four occasions.
The second half was more of the same, as he cleared the ball from the United penalty spot on numerous occasions, and was very unfortunate to concede a penalty for a pin-point challenge with Havertz. Lenny Euro is waiting to become a regular in United's squad, but it's hard to argue against bringing in Maguire when he's playing at this level.
And make no mistake about it, Arsenal They are a completely different team without Bukayo Saka.
To say they are devoid of ideas without the 23-year-old is perhaps a bit extreme, but there is no disputing that most attacks seem to grind to a halt without his invention, ability to beat a man inside or out, or ability. Stimulate instantaneous quality on the ball.
Things really improved in the chance creation department after Dalot's red card, which allowed Arteta's side more space and freedom to create an overload of players. Without wanting to appear like a broken record, they lack that player with a killer instinct in front of goal – Odegaard's bashful effort from the penalty spot and Havertz's bizarre late miss before extra time, further evidence of what they are missing.
Alexander Isak is the one, although the way Arsenal go about raising £150m is well above this writer's pay grade.
