FA CUP 5th Round review: MANCHESTER UNITED 4 v 0 Arsenal

Article by Mark Graham, Stats Nerd
Match Review
Manchester United 4 v 0 Arsenal, Old Trafford, Manchester, 17.15pm, Saturday 16th February 2008.
Goals: Manchester United: Rooney (16), Fletcher (20), (74), Nani (38).  Arsenal: n/a.
Attendance: 75,550

An opening goal from Wayne Rooney, a brace from Darren Fletcher & a well taken goal from the Showboating Nani, systematically dismantled the "Untouchables", eliminating them aggressively from the oldest Cup Competition in the world with ease.

In stark contrast to last weeks performance, United were as good this week as they were bad last as SAF rang the changes resting Tevez, Ronaldo (virus), Hargreaves, Scholes & Giggs giving starts to Anderson, Nani, Fletcher who the media seem to have forgotten that three youngsters deserve the same plaudits as Wayne Rooney having equally played as well as the phenomenally talented forward.

Arsen Wenger left Emmanuel Adebayor and Mathieu Flamini on the bench and started Traore & Hoyte in the full back slots where Nani at will skinned the young full backs time after time.

United took the lead inside 20 minutes as Nani's corner wasn't dealt with well by the Arsenal defence, Anderson rose to meet the outgoing ball with a header into the six yard box, where Rooney gratefully leapt to nod on the ball past Lehmann.

It took United only four minutes to double the advantage as Darren Fletcher (or Gallas) converted a near post header after Arsenal's full back's again saw the heels of Nani.

Fletcher, Nani, Anderson & Carrick were far too much for the seemingly invisible Fabregas & co to cope with, as all players especially Darren Fletcher gave the home crowd a treat to their best showing's in Red shirt to date.

Arsenal for ninety minutes could not get any momentum going whatsoever as Fletcher must have ran at least 100 miles, chasing, harassing & closing down, the monumental effort was so that Arsenal finished the match without a solitary shot on target, such was the authority of the Reds.

With Rooney simply embarrassing William "Never Give up" Gallas & Kolo Toure time and time again the England striker could so easily added to the score line, however the Reds scored shortly before the interval as Michael Carrick with a giant meat cleaver of a pass, sliced Arsenal's defence in half after spotting the run of Nani.  Carrick's perfect pass evaded Gallas at full jumping height & landed for Nani who with his first touch steadied the ball & lashed his shot past Lehman for 3-0.

In the second half Arsenal's MOTM German keeper Jens Lehman saved again from Rooney in the early going but the game was finally finished after Dirty b*stard Eboue (ask John Terry) was sent off for a dangerous cowardly high tackle on Patrice Evra.

Rooney then shot wide & made the busy visiting keeper work again as United look like it might turn out even more embarrassing for the visitors than it already was.

United had took the piss for the entire game & were maybe a week late to honour the Busby Babes, but this was the best display of football so far this season and one to honour the men who lost their lives, an important point to observe also was the ages of the men on the pitch, as they will be around for a long, long time to come.

Arsenal in the past have been guilty of showboating as all fans will agree, but confirmed to the world they can give it out but not take it as Rooney was yellow carded for being just too good after Gilberto & Gallas looked like total pillocks trying to harvest the ball from the White Pele's feet after the referee had blown for a free kick to Arsenal.

Arsenal with 20 minutes left brought on Mathieu Flamini, Phillip Senderos & Emmanuel Adebayor and news reports later confirmed the Togolese footballer had not infact been shot by a United fan with a sniper rifle, but was actually booked for diving in the penalty box.

The only bullets that were only show at Old Trafford on this day was the ammunition provided by Nani to his colleagues as he was again on hand to provide an assist, as with less than 20 minutes left, the Portuguese winger crossed the ball for the awesome Darren Fletcher to head in this time at the far post.

William "Never give up" Gallas toward the end of the game was extremely lucky to escape a red card after an off the ball kick at Nani, early reports have suggested the incident will be reviewed.  (Editor: this was probably the only time any Arsenal player had got a tackle in).

A flawless performance from Jens Lehman was capped in style as again he thwarted a United chance after Substitute Louis Saha turned in the box and shot. 

Submit Your Comments & Opinions Below.

United's Man of the Match
A bloody hard choice, as their are so many, but Fletcher with two goals & a titanic non stop display.
Not to mention Nani with two assists & a goal, Rooney being Rooney, Anderson simply brilliant, & Michael Carrick not far behind.
Bloody well done lads.

MUFC.COM's Reaction
Take it day by day & build on this performance as we have just destroyed an exceptional team, Well done Fletcher, Anderson, Nani & Wayne Rooney.

Milestones
Wayne Rooney's 10th FA Cup goal of his United career & 70th goal overall.
Darren Fletcher's 1st & 2nd FA Cup goals of his United career & 8th & 9th goals overall.
Nani's 1st FA Cup goal of his United career & 3rd goal overall.

SAF's 68th FA victory in charge.

Wayne Rooney's 170th competitive league appearance of his United career.

Ryan Giggs Countdown
Sir Bobby Charlton =753 appearances
Ryan Giggs             =731st appearance

22 competitive Games left to eclipse the All Time Record Set by Sir Bobby Charlton.

United's Next Match
Wednesday 20th February 2008 against Olympique Lyonnais in the UCL @ Stade de Gerland,Lyon, France, with a 19.45pm K.O.

MUFCINFO.COM Reader Feedback

Name: Alan
Email:  alan1938@hotmail.com
Comments: Agree 100% with your analysis, best I have seen "Norman Stanley" (Fletcher) play. Good to see one of the fastest strikers in the Premiership promenading around the opponents half. Keep it up Louis, maybe break into a trot next week, eh!