Another Man Utd player could have been sent off with Dalot if VAR existed in FA Cup clash vs Arsenal - opinion

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Manchester United survived with ten men for over 60 minutes to knock Arsenal out of the FA Cup on penalties.

The third round tie became very bleak for Ruben Amorim in the 61st minute after Diogo Dalot picked up a second yellow card, and the situation was compounded just two minutes later when Gabriel Magalhaes cancelled out an opener from Bruno Fernandes.

However, the Red Devils showed real courage to hang on – with Altay Bayindir even saving a penalty from Martin Odegaard in normal time, and another from Kai Havertz in the shootout before Joshua Zirkzee sealed the win.

Before the Turkey international denied the Norwegian from the spot – however – there was an old fashioned scuffle between both sets of players, with Harry Maguire and his Manchester United teammates furious at the Arsenal No.29 for what seemed like a blatant dive.

There was no VAR in place for Andy Madley to check his bold call, and had the technology been in use for this FA Cup third round tie, we may have witnessed Manuel Ugarte join Dalot in taking an early bath at the Emirates Stadium.

Manuel Ugarte fortunate to avoid punishment for headbutt on Kai Havertz

As Manchester United players showed their anger towards Havertz, the Uruguay international arguably took his dissatisfaction too far.

Ugarte well and truly got to grips with the Germany international, pushing him for a prolonged period of time before leaving the 25-year-old in a heap on the deck after an apparent headbutt.

With so much going on after Havertz won the penalty, you can understand why Madley missed this moment of madness from Ugarte – but had he been assisted by those in the VAR booth over at Stockley Park like the referees are in Premier League action, we feel the South American would have followed Dalot down the tunnel.

Andy Madley and his team did get one major decision correct in Arsenal vs Manchester United

While Madley missed this headbutt from Ugarte, he and his officiating team were right to disallow Gabriel Martinelli’s goal.

The Brazil international was furious after seeing what he thought to be an opener ruled out, arguing that Harry Maguire touched the ball before it reached his feet, so it should have therefore stood.

However, the FA rulebook states that it must be a deliberate touch – in this case, the ball simply deflected off the England international, who did not have control of possession.

Gary Lineker feels the rule should change in this respect – as it can be difficult to tell whether a touch was intentional or not – a suggestion we strongly agree with.