'I think': Ruben Amorim makes interesting claim about Arsenal's players after defeat to Man United

Yesterday at 02:31 PM

In the end, courtesy of a penalty shootout win, Manchester United overcame Arsenal in the FA Cup, despite playing for over an hour with 10-men.

Arsenal dominated the ball against Man United, but weren't able to get past Altay Bayindir on more than one occasion, an inspired performance by Andre Onana's back up.

Martin Odegaard was foiled from the spot during the 90 minutes, and then Kai Havertz also couldn't convert his penalty in the shootout, a bad night for Mikel Arteta's side.

In the space of a week, Arsenal have seemingly watched two routes to a trophy end, also surrendering a 2-0 deficit to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup.

Ruben Amorim suggests that Arsenal players looked defeated in FA Cup exit

Speaking after full-time, United boss Ruben Amorim made some interesting comments about Arsenal's efforts and how their players appeared to be feeling during the game.

Amorim actually suggested that the Arsenal players looked defeated on the pitch at times, knowing it was 'not their day'.

READ MORE: When Bukayo Saka is actually expected to return from his hamstring injury at Arsenal

Speaking to BBC Sport, he said: "We deserved to win, Arsenal didn’t deserve to lose but we deserved to win. 

"The way we played, the way we fought was really tough since the beginning. We didn’t have the ball too much but we had control without the ball."

Amorim continued: “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.”

Mikel Arteta’s injury crisis worsens against Man United

As has been the case with a lot of Arsenal's heartache of late, it still felt as if the game was decided on very small margins – Arteta's side could have cruised home if Odegaard scored his spot-kick.

But now Arsenal will be forced to find a way to either win the Premier League, the Champions League or overturn a two goal deficit against Newcastle if they want to win a trophy.

In fairness, Micah Richards didn't think Arsenal deserved the penalty that Odegaard missed – Havertz did go down very softly. 

And in truth, Amorim might be right in suggesting that Arteta's players looked defeated even before the game was over – the whole squad has been through a lot of late.

There's a lot of pressure to achieve at the Emirates, and Arteta's side in the midst of an injury crisis aren't quite able to live up to the billing right now.