Manchester United star may have saved his career at the club vs Arsenal, bold Ruben Amorim call paid off

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Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim demonstrated how headstrong and supportive he can be to his players against Arsenal.

When Manchester United took on Tottenham in the Carabao Cup last month, Ruben Amorim made a big call, to leave out Andre Onana and bring in Altay Bayindir.

It was an understandable one, with Bayindir impressing in the two earlier rounds, he deserved to keep his place, while Amorim would have wanted to take a look at him in a game scenario.

It’s unlikely he would have been impressed. Bayindir had a poor game even before he was caught flailing for Heung-Min Son’s corner that arrowed straight into the net.

It was a bad night for Bayindir, and it would not have been a surprise if this was his final game in a United shirt.

With a cup tie against set-piece specialists Arsenal on the horizon, how could Amorim possibly risk slotting him in?

Whether it was Andre Onana conceding a similar corner against Wolves, or a genuine belief in his own refreshed tactical approach defending corners, Ruben Amorim doubled down and gave Bayindir another chance.

Amorim announced before the game that Bayindir would get a starting spot against Arsenal, filling United fans with dread.

Altay Bayindir the hero

Altay Bayindir was Manchester United’s hero against Arsenal, pulling off an unlikely redemption story.

Bayindir saved a penalty from Martin Odegaard, after Kai Havertz had caused fury by diving inside the box to trick the referee into awarding a spot-kick.

The save helped 10-man United hang on through the 90 minutes and extra-time, before turning hero in the shootout too.

Bayindir was a really unlikely matchwinner, pulling off a number of impressive saves late in the game too to deny Arsenal.

Speaking post-game, Amorim said: “Altay had a difficult game against Tottenham [in the Carabao Cup], but continued to do the same things in training, maybe without a smile, but he continued to work and today he is our hero.”

Bayindir gives career lifeline

Altay Bayindir signed for Manchester United under Erik ten Hag in summer 2023 as a back-up to Andre Onana.

His first season was largely a washout, selected to play only once, against Newport County in the FA Cup.

This season Bayindir has made four appearances now, and will be in line to retain his spot for the fourth round clash against Leicester City.

Following the Tottenham game, speculation over Bayindir’s future ramped up. Despite his expressed desire to stay, via his agent, United have been linked with other goalkeepers, including Belgian talent Senne Lammens, and once again, Zion Suzuki.

These links may turn out to be credible in the summer. But right now, there will be no rash decisions concerning Altay Bayindir.

Ruben Amorim kept his nerve, and so did Bayindir. Both coach and player deserve real credit, and the goalkeeper has now given himself a real fighting chance.