FA Cup: United Outclass Arsenal To Reach QFs
Rooney congratulaed by the team-mates (Foto: eurosport.com)
Arsenal have just been ousted from the third competition as Manchester United beat Arsene Wenger side 2-0 last night at the Old Trafford in the sixth round of the FA Cup.
Fabio and Rooney scored the only two goals to put Alex Ferguson’s squad through into the best eight. Rooney has had a tremendous night, creating dozens of chances for the Devils, while Edwin Van der Sar has also made providential saves, rescuing United from big surprises. On the other side, Arsenal dropped to ten men following Djourou’s serious injury with ten minutes left.
The same thing happened last Tuesday in the Champions League game against FC Barcelona when the Londoners were condemned to play the last minutes in inferiority following Van Persie’s free red card.
Manchester United’s first chance came in the 15th minute. The left midfielder Fabio fed his brother Rafael with a perfect cross from the left the right-midfielder could only head it wide. Fabio would bring the first lead in the 28th minute. Rooney played Hernandez inside the box, but the Mexican’s header was poorly saved by Almunia. The rebound belonged to Fabio who did the rest from close range and into the roof of the net.
Arsenal reply came just five minutes later, through Van Persie. First, the Dutch thundered a shot from good position only to be denied by Van der Sar, while the second one found him striking the ball wide following Nasri’s perfect corner. United’s keeper made another great save with two minutes remaining. Nasri won the ball in good position, but his shot was blocked by alert Van der Sar.
Valencia has made his first appearance since autumn after replacing Fabio in the first minute of the second half. Arsenal defender Koscielny had the first word in the second part, his finish being saved by a top-shaped Van der Sar. Against the game run, United made it 2-0 just one minute later. Rafael’s cross traveled above Hernandez and Djourou only to meet Rooney in a very tight angle, heading home past Almunia from an impossible angle.
Nasri brought Arsenal’s reply in the 57th minute, the Israeli storming a shot from the edge of the box which couldn’t beat the Dutch keeper. United were also chasing their third goal. Giggs, who replaced Rafael Silva in the 64th minute, got his first chance one minute later. Valencia’s cross found the Welsh veteran in good position, but unable to surprise Almunia.
Chamakh also tried his luck in the 67th minute, but Arsenal striker’s shot from the edge of the box met Van der Sar’s hands to the dismay of Arsene Wenger. There is no doubt the Dutch keeper has been one of the best players of the night, if not the best. The 76th minute found the same 40-year-old blocking Chamakh’s shot from dangerous area.
Unfortunately, the 80th minute brought a critical incident. Giggs played Rooney on the right, but his cross for Hernandez caused some serious damages in the Gunners side. In his attempt to block the Mexican, Djourou suffered a tough injury on his shoulder that could keep the defender out for days, if not weeks.
Paul Scholes was the only one to leave the pitch with a yellow card. The Devils veteran was cautioned for an ugly tackle on fragile Chamakh with two minutes remaining. The last word belonged to Hernandez, whose late finish hit Almunia. 2-0 and United are through into the last eight round.
Manchester United – Van der Sar; Brown, Smalling, Vidic, Evra; Rafael, O’Shea, Gibson, Fabio; Rooney, Hernandez. Reserves: D. Berbatov, J. King, G. Obertan, R. Giggs, P. Scholes, A. Valncia, T. Kuszczak.
Arsenal – Almunia; Sagna, Djourou, Koscielny, Gibbs; Diaby, Denilson; Nasri, Wilshere, Arshavin; Van Persie. Reserves: J. Shea, S. Squillaci, M. Chamakh, T. Rosicky, G. Clichy, E. Eboue, A. Ramsey.
