E-Zee does it as Josh becomes Reds hero
Manchester Evening News|January 13, 2025
'IF Zirkzee scores, we're on the pitch,' the United fans promised. He did. They tried. Thirteen days after Zirkzee was heckled by thousands of Reds fans inside Old Trafford and ran away from them, he charged towards them. Moments before United's penalty shoot-out victory, Zirkzee turned to them and played cheerleader. He led the cheers.
SAMUEL LUCKHURST
E-Zee does it as Josh becomes Reds hero

United players and staff chased after Zirkzee. Whatever else his time at United holds, Zirkzee will always have a winner against Arsenal.

This was another ten-man United triumph against Arsenal in the FA Cup 26 years on from the Treble winners at Villa Park.

Arsenal fans chant about wearing a yellow ribbon in May but it is the scarlet of United that could decorate Wembley Way come the end of the season.

This was the highlight of the Ruben Amorim era. The remainder of their domestic season will not be restricted to ensuring a respectable finish in the Premier League table.

Look beyond that table and Amorim has wins at Arsenal and City, as well as a creditable draw at Anfield. His United is starting to take shape.

There was another unlikely hero in Altay Bayindir. His promised recall filled many United fans with dread. Bayindir cost them in the League Cup but sent them through in the FA Cup. He played the Peter Schmeichel role and Martin Odegaard was Dennis Bergkamp for the vital penalty kick in the 72nd minute. Come the shoot-out, Bayindir and nearly 8,000 United fans deterred the jittery Kai Havertz, who failed with Arsenal's second spot-kick.

Bayindir was conversing with the United physio, David Binningsley, moments before the teams emerged from the tunnel. If he requested a courage pill after his previous performance it did the trick. Come the start of extra time, Bayindir was so confident he was doubling as a cheerleader in front of the Reds followers. Zirkzee did likewise ahead of the shoot-out.

This story is from the January 13, 2025 edition of Manchester Evening News.

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This story is from the January 13, 2025 edition of Manchester Evening News.

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