Arsenal defender William Saliba shared his immediate reactions following the team’s exit from the FA Cup, where they faced Manchester United in a tense penalty shootout at the Emirates Stadium.
The match saw Mikel Arteta describe the outcome as a rare and unfortunate event, stating that such results occur “once in a thousand.” United took the lead with a goal from Bruno Fernandes in the 52nd minute. However, the tide turned when Diogo Dalot was sent off for a late tackle just nine minutes later, leaving Manchester United with ten men.
Arsenal struggled to capitalize on their numerical advantage, with Gabriel Magalhães equalizing in the 63rd minute. The Gunners had a golden opportunity to go ahead but captain Martin Ødegaard missed a penalty late in regular time. This controversial decision came after a debatable foul by Harry Maguire on Kai Havertz, which saw the penalty awarded despite the absence of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in the FA Cup until later rounds.
Throughout the match, Arsenal recorded 26 shots, however, they failed to convert their chances effectively, with Havertz notably missing a couple of key opportunities. In the penalty shootout, he was the only player to see his attempt saved, allowing Joshua Zirkzee to clinch the win for United.
Arteta expressed his disappointment but remained optimistic about his team’s abilities, saying, “I love my players. I love our team and I love how good they are… In a thousand games, you should lose one, and probably it was this one.” He emphasized the need to move forward quickly, as the Gunners prepare for a critical Premier League clash against Tottenham this Wednesday. This upcoming match provides Arsenal an opportunity to rebound from this setback and showcase their resilience against a major rival.
In summary, despite the disappointment of elimination from the FA Cup, Arsenal can focus on their upcoming challenges in the league as they aim to contend strongly for the title. The team has demonstrated their potential and talent, and the hope remains that they will learn from this experience and perform better in future matches.