Joshua Zirkzee’s redemption arc complete as Manchester United understudies take centre stage
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Arsenal 1-1 Manchester United aet (Manchester United won 5-4 on penalties): The Dutchman’s cool penalty secured cup victory just 13 days on from his substitution being cheered by fans. Once again, Joshua Zirkzee had the Manchester United fans cheering. It was his substitution they celebrated 13 days earlier against Newcastle, the Dutchman suddenly the scapegoat for a dozen years of underachievement and hundreds of millions wasted in transfer-market mistakes. But it was Zirkzee who slotted in the spot kick that eliminated Arsenal from the FA Cup, the substitute who decided a shootout. It has been an eventful fortnight for the striker; first humiliated, now feted. “Life has these beautiful things,” said Ruben Amorim.
![[Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee hit the winning penalty]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/12/18/f5f14f7519dd2bd46faa448517afcb21Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM2NzkxNTU1-2.78673233.jpg)
From an ugliness, there is a beauty for United as well. From the low of Newcastle, Amorim has constructed twin triumphs of sorts. Neither a victory in 90 minutes, nor this in 120, but a draw at Anfield was followed by a demonstration of determination at the Emirates. Amorim’s reign is barely two months old and defeats outnumber wins but he has had a hat-trick of defining away games to savour: a Manchester derby, a trip to Liverpool, his second visit to Arsenal.
![[Ruben Amorim showed tactical flexibility]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/12/15/newFile-4.jpg)
A fourth-round reunion with Ruud van Nistelrooy was secured by the understudies, the second-choice goalkeeper and the reserve striker. Perhaps that is fitting: there is little pretence this squad is ideal for Amorim, so he has to make the best of what he has. The greatest FA Cup tie between United and Arsenal turned on a superb penalty save, Peter Schmeichel denying Dennis Bergkamp in the 1999 semi-final. A quarter of a century on, Altay Bayindir had not one Schmeichel moment but two, saving from Martin Odegaard in the match and Kai Havertz in the shootout.
![[Bruno Fernandes curled home magnificently]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/12/16/newFile-3.jpg)
