LAST ENCOUNTER: Wayne Rooney sealed a 2-1 away victory with his side's first shot on target after 85 minutes when Manchester United faced Arsenal in this season’s Premier League clash in November. PHOTO: AFP
But supporters from either side may also go back to 21 May, 2005 — the second FA Cup final meeting between the two clubs — and reminisce, or regret, the outcome in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, a one-sided affair, where the dominated defeated the dominator, where Arsenal threw away those luckless 120 minutes to win 5-4 on penalties and hold the trophy — jubilant and thrilled. It was the first time in the history of this trophy that the result was decided after the final whistle.
United had eight shots on target out of 12; Arsenal had one from their four attempts. 12 corners to Arsenal’s one. The Gunners’ defence was breached throughout and twice, in the last five minutes of normal time, United came close to scoring but it wasn’t meant to be — even when Jose Antonio Reyes was sent off in the final seconds.
The shootout was 4-4 after Paul Scholes was denied by Jens Lehmann to leave Arsenal one kick away from the oldest cup in football. It was to be Patrick Vieira’s final kick for Arsenal, and with the captain’s armband on, he walked past United skipper Roy Keane in that long march of hell to the penalty spot — they both knew just how crucial this last kick was. Defeated thrice that season already by the Red Devils, Arsenal needed this win, and that last kick, which made its way past Roy Carroll and into the net, gave them the storied trophy. In the end, it was the second-best team that had won.
Despite this part of Arsenal’s celebrated history, the odds seem to remain in United’s favour. In their previous two meetings in this competition, the Red Devils have outclassed Arsenal both times — 4-0 in the 2007-08 campaign and 2-0 four years later. Moreover, the last time the two met this season in November, the Gunners lost at home 2-1. Piling misery on top of misery.
And Wayne Rooney, who has netted three goals in United’s last four fixtures, will be focused on the challenge, looking to keep going towards the one piece of silverware that has eluded his career so far. Arsenal will be wary of the United skipper, who has scored more league goals against them than any other player in the club’s long history.
However, what Arsenal do have on their side is the determination to keep what is theirs, to defend their FA Cup title and throw over all those odds stacked against them. Alex Sanchez, who finally scored against QPR in mid-week after a dry spell of seven games, will be looking to add to his tally of 19 goals this season, so he could be a key player for the Gunners.
Arsenal will be aiming to surprise and they will be aiming to win, at the Theatre of Dreams. They have already conjured up a famous win at Manchester this season when they visited league champions City, and will be hoping to make it yet another happy return to London.
Both teams are currently tied as joint-record holders on 11 wins each. Arsenal are just a point ahead in the Premier League, with United at fourth. It’s a battle to stay in the top four, it’s a way to put behind the misery of the Champions League, it’s a fight between two sides in two competitions, but for now, on Monday, just one thing matters — clearing the path to that FA Cup trophy.
Villa reach FA Cup semi-finals
Aston Villa became the first team to reach the FA Cup semi-finals after beating West Bromwich Albion 2-0 on Saturday in a match marred by late pitch invasions.
In a near repeat of Tuesday's Premier League game between the sides, which Villa won 2-1, Fabian Delph and Scott Sinclair struck to take Tim Sherwood's team into the last four for the first time since 2010.
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