Antonio Valencia apologises to Manchester United fans and team-mates for horror show against Arsenal in FA Cup loss

The right-back played a role in both Arsenal goals

James Orr
Wednesday 11 March 2015 17:18 GMT
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Antonio Valencia in action during the loss on Monday night
Antonio Valencia in action during the loss on Monday night

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Antonio Valencia has apologised to Manchester United supporters and team-mates for his horror show against Arsenal on Monday night in the FA Cup sixth-round, when he played a part in both of the Gunners' goals in the 2-1 defeat.

The Ecuadorian right-back, 29, was caught out of position to allow Nacho Monreal to open the scoring for Arsenal, and then played a woeful back-pass to assist Danny Welbeck for the Gunners' decisive second.

"I want to apologise to my team-mates and the fans of Manchester United," Valencia wrote on Instagram. "Tomorrow is another day and keep working."

He also tagged in team-mates Marcos Rojo, Juan Mata, Ander Herrera, Rafael da Silva and Robin van Persie in the message.

(instagram.com/antoniovalencia14)

While working as a pundit for the game, former Manchester United captain Roy Keane branded Valencia's defending for the first goal as "disgraceful" and his role in the second as in the second as "shocking".

He said of Arsenal's opening goal: "Blind and Valencia - it's absolutely disgraceful. Schoolboy errors and that's what costs your team.

"Big moments in a football match and if you give Arsenal, with the quality that they have, that type of freedom that's what happens.

"It was too easy, shocking. Absolutely disgraceful."

And with of Welbeck's winner, Keane said: "Shocking defending, this is even worse [than the first goal]," he added.

"[Phil] Jones has time to clear, he can do better and Valencia, of course, is compounding from the first goal."

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