A heated and controversial FA Cup third-round encounter between Arsenal and Manchester United was marked by a heated exchange between Harry Maguire and Kai Havertz following a contentious incident.
The match at the Emirates Stadium was a hard-fought affair that went all the way to a penalty shootout. Bruno Fernandes gave the Red Devils the lead in the 52nd minute, but Gabriel leveled for the Gunners just 11 minutes later. The game's most controversial moment came when Havertz went down in the box after a slight contact with Maguire, leading to a penalty award.
Maguire vehemently disagreed with the referee's decision, shouting "You cheating scumbag!" at Havertz, according to the Mail Online. The insult sparked a melee between the two teams.
Despite Arsenal's spot-kick, goalkeeper Altay Bayindir saved Martin Odegaard's effort, keeping the scores level. In the ensuing shootout, Havertz missed the second penalty, handing United a 5-4 victory and a place in the fourth round against Leicester City.
There was more drama to come. Diogo Dalot was sent off in the 58th minute for a reckless challenge on Mikel Merino, leaving United to play with 10 men. However, the Red Devils dug deep and held firm against an Arsenal side with a record 14 FA Cup titles.
United manager Ruben Amorim hailed Bayindir as the "hero" of the match, praising his penalty save and overall performance. "Today was our day," Amorim said. "In a week, your life can change. From being criticized after the Tottenham loss, Altay has shown his quality today."
Arsenal, meanwhile, were left to rue missed opportunities and individual errors. Havertz's penalty miss and subsequent shootout failure capped a disappointing week for the Gunners, who were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Newcastle earlier in the week.
The match was a classic example of the fierce rivalry between these two English giants, with plenty of talking points and controversies to keep fans engaged for days to come.
