Mikel Arteta suggests £4.3m Man United star was 'the best player' on the pitch in FA Cup clash vs Arsenal
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Mikel Arteta watched his Arsenal side fall at the first hurdle in the FA Cup third round clash against Manchester United on Sunday.
Despite having one more player than the Red Devils for roughly an hour of the game after Diogo Dalot’s 61st minute red card, the Gunners could not overcome the FA Cup holders – despite registering 26 shots and 71% possession.
Altay Bayindir proved to be the hero for Manchester United after the red card – stepping up to save a penalty from Martin Odegaard in normal time, while also thwarting Declan Rice on two occasions with special stops.
The Turkey international also saved a penalty from Kai Havertz in the shootout to help Manchester United into the fourth round – where Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester City await – and Mikel Arteta opted to single the glovesman out in his interview after a heroic performance.
What Mikel Arteta said about Altay Bayindir
Almost in a begrudging manner, the Spaniard praised the Manchester United No.1 for his display when asked to explain why Arsenal were so wasteful in front of goal.
Arteta told the BBC: “It’s football. Also, a part of that (poor) execution (in front of goal) creates the goalkeeper as well – who was probably the best player. You need things to go your way and tonight they didn’t.”
Bayindir – who only recently endured a tough night in the Carabao Cup against Tottenham, conceding directly from a corner – seemed to grow in confidence as the game went on, and almost appeared to gain superpowers after Dalot was dismissed.
The Turk – who Manchester United signed from Fenerbahce for £4.3m back in September 2023 – made six saves in total, with all six coming from shots inside the box.
Bayindir also made two successful punches and two high claims to go with his two penalty saves, while completing seven accurate long range passes as well.
Ruben Amorim has food for thought after Manchester United knock Arsenal out of the FA Cup
It will be hard for Amorim to drop Bayindir – who Alan Shearer praised – after such a remarkable performance, one which probably left Andre Onana sweating on the bench.
Onana has been criticised on several occasions for his unconvincing displays in between the sticks, where he unnecessarily puts teammates under pressure with poor passes – like we saw against Viktoria Plzen earlier this season – while also letting some seemingly saveable shots go straight through him.
Since his £47.2m move from Inter Milan back in July 2023, we have rarely seen the Cameroon international deliver a display like Bayindir did against Arsenal – so perhaps Amorim will reconsider his No.1 in the next few days.
