By Alan Duffy
Manchester United 1-2 Arsenal – FA Cup Quarter-Final – 9th March 2015
Deemed surplus to requirements at Old Trafford by Louis Van Gaal last summer, Danny Welbeck proved to be the match-winner in a rousing FA clash between these two old footballing war horses.
The Gunners opened the scoring on 25 minutes, with Nacho Monreal calmly finishing after a superb dribble from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. However, Arsenal’s defensive frailties were there for all to see soon after, when an unmarked Wayne Rooney headed home from an Angel Di Maria centre to level the scores.
At the break, Van Gaal sent of Michael Carrick and Phil Jones for Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw but it was the visitors who looked the more likely to score, with David De Gea outstanding in goal for the Red Devils. On the hour-mark, Arsenal netted the winning goal, with Welbeck making the most of a weak Antonio Valencia back-pass before slotting home (and celebrating properly against his old side). United’s night then went from bad to worse when Di Maria saw red after he saw two yellows in succession for diving and then grabbing ref Michael Oliver’s shirt. Down to 10-men, the hosts couldn’t get themselves back into the game, leaving the Gunners to secure a deserved victory.
Arsene Wenger’s men now face their 10th FA Cup semi-final under the stewardship of the Frenchman, where they will face Bradford City or Reading (while Aston Villa will play Liverpool or Blackburn). Van Gaal, on the other hand, has a lot of work to do to re-build the Red Devils into the force they once were.
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Photos: Getty Images
Highlights: Footytube