Manchester United progressed to the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 5-3 penalty shootout victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

After the teams could not be separated after 120 minutes, the contest was settled from the penalty spot, with United successfully converting each of their five kicks. Joshua Zirkzee tucked home the decisive penalty after Altay Bayindir had earlier denied Kai Havertz.

United had been reduced to 10 men with 61 minutes on the clock, losing Diogo Dalot to a second yellow card, but they defended heroically to take the game all the way to penalties.

READ MORE: Man United and Premier League rivals set for imminent points deduction decision after £113m loss

READ MORE: Paul Pogba fires two-word message amid January window transfer hope and Manchester United links

As both captain and as United's designated penalty taker, Bruno Fernandes took on the responsibility to take the first spot-kick of the shootout. He scored, stroking the ball home effortlessly, sending Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya the wrong way in the process.

As he walked back towards his teammates who were gathered inside the centre circle, Lisandro Martinez made his way towards the United captain and embraced him. He gave him a high ten before Fernandes then walked along the line his teammates had formed to press the flesh of each of them.

Martinez replicated his decision to make his way forward and congratulate Fernandes for United's next two penalties, which were converted by Amad and Leny Yoro. The Argentine greeted Amad by clenching his fists and patting him on the back before giving Yoro a high five with some force.

As Yoro, who had scored United's third penalty to put them 3-1 up, made his way along the line of his teammates to receive their congratulations, Fernandes made his way into the centre of it and placed his right index finger on Zirkzee's chest. What he said to the Dutchman is, of course, unknown, but he is likely to have told him that it would soon be time for him to step up and take one himself.

After Yoro had made it 3-1 to United, Declan Rice stepped up for Arsenal, making it 3-2. Martinez then stepped up to take United's fourth and scored to put them on the brink of going through.

Thomas Partey then stepped up to take Arsenal's fourth penalty, firing past Bayindir, meaning Zirkzee had the chance to send United through. He made no mistake, slotting the ball home to spark pandemonium among the 8,000 travelling United fans behind the goal.

Zirkzee was immediately mobbed by his United teammates, who were evidently delighted that he had dispatched the winning penalty 13 days on from being booed off the pitch by some United fans against Newcastle United at Old Trafford. It was a heart-warming moment in so many ways.

Fellow Dutchman Matthijs de Ligt made a point of ensuring Zirkzee got the recognition he deserved, hugging him and pointing to him, urging the fans to appreciate his role in the shootout. Martinez then pushed Zirkzee forward to ensure he got a moment in the spotlight in front of the fans.

The Argentine displayed immense leadership qualities throughout the shootout, highlighting that he remains a crucial player, despite his patchy form this season.