Man United knocked out of FA Cup as Arsenal advance to fourth round

Manchester United crashed out of the FA Cup with a meek 2-1 home defeat to Brighton on Sunday as Gabriel Martinelli’s hat-trick fired Arsenal to a 4-1 win at Portsmouth to reach fourth round.

United interim boss Darren Fletcher could only watch on in horror as the Red Devils’ last chance of silverware this season and likely his chances of landing the job until the end of the season went up in smoke at Old Trafford.

United were left to rue not making more of a positive start before Brajan Gruda fired the visitors in front on 12 minutes from Danny Welbeck’s cross.

The roles were reversed midway through the second half as Welbeck lashed into the top corner against his former club.

There were persistent chants targeting United co-owners the Glazer family and British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe as the discontent at Old Trafford grew.

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And any hope those in charge of the club had for a bounce following the removal of Ruben Amorim has proved very short-lived.

Benjamin Sesko’s late header set up a grandstand finish, but it proved too little, too late for Fletcher.

Earlier, Martinelli shrugged off the backlash to his clash with Liverpool defender Conor Bradley as Arsenal reached the FA Cup fourth round for the first time in three years.

West Ham also eased the mounting pressure on Nuno Espirito Santo as new signing Taty Castellanos scored his first goal for the club to beat QPR 2-1 after extra-time.

Leeds needed a second-half fightback to beat Derby County 3-1 and book their place in the FA Cup fourth round.

League One Mansfield held off Sheffield United to book their place in round four with a 4-3 win at Bramall Lane.

Norwich, Hull, and West Brom also progressed to the FA Cup last 32.

The Star