Ruben Amorim claimed that Arsenal’s failure to make their domination count will have been on their mind as they lost their FA Cup tie against Manchester United on penalties
Ruben Amorim claimed Arsenal knew “it wasn’t going to be their day” as Manchester United downed them in the FA Cup.
The Gunners dominated the third-round clash at the Emirates, but couldn’t get the job done in 90 minutes. They then failed to find a winner in extra-time and were undone in the penalty shootout.
Kai Havertz missed the decisive spot kick and he was among those to miss major chances in normal time. Martin Odegaard missed a penalty as Altar Bayindir continued to come up with big moments. Diogo Dalot’s red card in the second half only made United’s task harder.
Arsenal were unable to make their dominance count and, once the whistle went in extra-time, United had a great chance of advancing into the fourth round and left the hosts questioning how they failed to convert their chances.
Amorim said: “Sometimes we have the feeling that everything in the end is going to be okay. I felt that since the beginning of the second half, even after the penalty. I think the Arsenal team felt that maybe today is not their day. I’m really pleased for the way they controlled the game without the ball. We defended very well, set pieces we were really strong. It was a good day but now I’m thinking about the next game and worried about the next game.
“We were facing a great team and it was not just 90 minutes, it was more than that and then you feel like the players are really tired. They put in new players, they controlled the ball all the time, it was a sacrifice for my players. But we deserved to pass through this round because we suffered all together and we showed character and that’s a very important thing.”
Arsenal’s frustration will only hammer home their failings in the final third. Mikel Arteta’s side have continued to operate without a prolific striker and, once again, that has cost them with another trophy opportunity passing them by.
Arteta confessed that the contest would be viewed as a failure after they were, for the second season running, dumped out by a fellow heavyweight in the third round, but he felt his side put in a stellar display and “deserved to win the game by a mile”.
He said: “The reality is we are out and the only thing that’s going to be judged it that but internally I can’t. It’s football and it is a part of that execution, you need things to go your way and tonight it didn’t. When you go to penalties you know that it’s a flick of the coin and it can go either way.”
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