Arsenal are under pressure after Man United have knocked them out of the FA Cup third round.
The match would burst into life at the beginning of the second half. Bruno Fernandes found the back of the net after Alejandro Garnacho capitalised on a slip from Gabriel close to the halfway line.
But the tide turned on the hour mark. Diogo Dalot picked up a second yellow card, and the guests went down to ten men. Straight away, Gabriel grabbed a chance to redeem himself and equalized.
Kai Havertz then earned a penalty after attracting contact from Harry Maguire. However, Martin Ødegaard could not convert from the spot, and the two outfits were level after two hours of action.
Altay Bayındır brought the heroics in the shootout. He saved Havertz's penalty and Joshua Zirkzee delivered the dagger as the visitors had revenge for the 2-0 defeat to Mikel Arteta's men last month.
Here are four things we learnt from things we learned from Arsenal's FA Cup exit.
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Woes continue in cup competitions
Arteta already knows the magic of the FA Cup from his playing days. He lifted the trophy as the captain of the club, ending a nine-year hunt for silverware. Now, he is desperate to end his own drought for major honours and this competition could have become the answer to his prayers.
Since he lifted the FA Cup as manager in 2020, his record has been far from impressive. The team have not passed the fourth round over the last five years as he often fielded second-string lineups.
Out of necessity, the manager had to use most of his senior players from the start of this match. He oversaw a ball-dominant display with many more shots and chances than exits in previous campaigns.
But in the end, the outcome was the same as in the past. Now that he has built a squad with significant spending, critics will continue to question if he can lead his players to success when it matters most.
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Sterling steps on the gas
Arteta needs other players to take on the burden Bukayo Saka so often saddled. One of his deputies has remained on the margins of the squad, but yesterday, he showed what he can bring to the table.
Raheem Sterling, a summer deadline day loanee from Chelsea, seems to be a panic purchase. While he worked with Arteta at Man City, the 30-year-old has only played 130 Premier League minutes.
So, you could forgive fans for not expecting much from his display. However, he showed he can still impact games from the flank with his explosive dribbling. It was his willingness to drive directly at the defensive line that engineered the access to Havertz for Ødegaard's penalty in the second half.
This was not a groundbreaking display. Sterling's influence did wane as time wore on. However, it was something that could provide observers with a little hope that there is more to extract from the winger. And at the moment, Arteta needs all the assistance that he can muster in the final third.
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The attack giveth, the attack taketh away
Sterling's efforts were not enough to save Arsenal from the exit. Although he made an impression, other attackers failed to deliver the incision that the team required to advance into the next round.
Havertz has taken the headlines for all the wrong reasons. The German was the only man to miss his penalty in the shootout and again, he was guilty of several close-range miscues in the box beforehand.
To make matters worse, Arteta must deal with one more injury in a threadbare offensive department.
Sterling only entered the field as early as he did because Gabriel Jesus crumpled to the floor with a disheartening injury. The Brazilian, who has scored six goals during the last month, was in visible pain and had to depart on a stretcher. Arteta revealed: "[He was] touching his knee, it’s not looking good."
His absence adds to the injuries of Ethan Nwaneri and Saka. Arsenal fans feared the worst without Saka's presence on the pitch for the first few months of 2025 but this crisis continues to deepen.
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Damage limitation
If a trophy is the target of the season, the last week may be the moment that killed Arsenal's ambition.
The 2-0 loss to Newcastle has put the team on the verge of the exit in the Carabao Cup. Before that outing, the 1-1 draw with Brighton was the latest misstep in a league campaign that cannot afford many more errors. However, there is no space in the schedule for the squad to wallow in self-pity.
Arteta's men host Tottenham in the next North London derby on Wednesday before they welcome Unai Emery and Aston Villa to their ground at the end of this week. The fans are rightly on edge.
A sequence of four straight games at the Emirates Stadium might have come at the worst time for the team. After the contest with Newcastle, Arteta addressed the supporters, highlighting the part that they have to play to "maintain the level of energy and belief in the stadium." But belief is wavering.
