'The higher you build your barriers, the taller I become' .
Not so much the lyrics to a song by 1980s lyricist Labi Siffre, more Manchester United's modus operandi at the Emirates yesterday.
'The further you take my rights away, the faster I will run'. It is a song about going the extra mile, standing up for yourselves and overcoming all that is thrown at you. While the lyrics were largely written about the atrocious apartheid regime in South Africa, they can equally be applied to anyone needing inspiration to overcome adversity.
And it was adversity of an almost impossible nature that Manchester United found themselves facing after an hour of this storming FA Cup third rounder. Diogo Dalot was sent from the field by a referee who couldn't wait to do so, and so the barrier was built. From then on, it was backs to the ball as United dug out a performance of resilience and courage for the ages.
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Man Utd celebrate penalty win |
As Kelly Clarkson once sang, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
And how the depleted ranks of the ten Manchester United heroes in dark blue stood tall. They dug deeper than they've ever had to dig before. Roared on magnificently by the 8,000 travelling fans, there was no quarter given, every blade of grass covered by a much-criticised group of players whom, this time, looked like they'd rather die than lose this cup tie. Just watching on from home, it was inspiring and uplifting as those players out there refused to be beaten, refused to give in. I was proud of our boys spirit, fight, guts, courage and sheer bloody mindedness. They put their bodies on the line, their hearts and soul and every last drop of energy they had into that match.
How many times have we been able to say that of late? Now we have said it for two weeks on the spin.
They did indeed find Something Inside. Something Inside so Strong. For all the wave of anger and ill-feeling directed towards this squad of late, how nice is it to sit here and heap praise upon them? Every single player deserves massive credit, oodles of praise and a round of applause for a performance to remember. Our reward is a fourth round tie at home to Leicester City. Who knows now where this season will go now? We still languish in the bottom half of the league table but are going strong in two cup competitions. We will not give up this defence of our FA Cup trophy without a fight.
Marshalled monstrously by Messrs Matthijs, Maguire and Martinez at the back, United were immense. In midfield, Manuel Ugarte added the latest exhibit to his growing collection of masterpieces. Back up goalkeeper Altay Bayindir hardly covered himself in glory last time he played in north London, but became inspired here. He should have perhaps done better with the Arsenal opener, but saved Martin Odegaard's penalty and then kept out the decisive spot-kick in the shootout. Captain Bruno capped another totemic performance with a brilliant goal and there were magnificent performances everywhere you looked.
Away from home against eleven Arsenal players and a corrupt referee who was paid off to knock us out, justice was done. A lesson, folks, that cheats never prosper.
Not so long ago, United would have crumbled after Dalot's sending off, but here it only seemed to spur us on. Was it pretty? No, but there is more than one way to skin a cat - or win a football match. We were forced into the trenches after the sending off but emerged triumphant on the other side.
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Altay Bayindir became an unlikely hero |
You don't get a result against this Arsenal side - a side existing at the upper echelons of English football as Man City's cheek-by-jowel challengers - without every player proving his worth. Toby Collyer, the latest product of the Carrington conveyor belt, caught the eye off the bench. The much malinged Joshua Zirkzee almost scored in extra-time and then did score his penalty. He may still not turn out to be good enough for this club, but whatever happens, he will always have that moment.
Just as it did at Anfield, United's gameplan bore the fruits of another full week of training under the tutelage of Ruben Amorim. We have now beaten City and Arsenal and got a draw at Liverpool. Slowly but surely, the cocoon of Amorim's United is beginning to emerge, blinking into the sunlight.
More than that, we've got those results with a clear gameplan and an identifiable style.
You felt everything was against us this weekend: we conveniently got the hardest possible FA Cup draw and then, as if this wasn't enough, had a ref just as bad. We cover that here. But I don't want to dwell on that. I want to celebrate and enjoy my team achieving something special. Oh and enjoy the meltdown from those planks on a certain YouTube channel. UTFR!!
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