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.
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.
