Wayne Rooney delivered
a virtuoso solo display as Manchester United outclassed Arsenal in
the FA Cup fifth round.
Rooney headed United in front from close range after 16 minutes
and Darren Fletcher provided another headed finish from Nani's
cross four minutes later.
Wayne Rooney finds himself free in the box before
flicking a header past Arsenal's Jens Lehmann in the 16th
minute
Michael Carrick set up Nani for a third as United turned on the
style.
Arsenal's Emmanuel Eboue was sent off after 48 minutes for a
foul on Patrice Evra before Nani was the creator again as Fletcher
headed United's fourth. <!-- E SF -->
England coach Fabio Capello was in attendance at Old Trafford
and showed his appreciation for Rooney's brilliance by applauding
his England striker when he was substituted with 20 minutes
left.
United left Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs out of their
line-up, while Arsenal kept Emmanuel Adebayor and Mathieu Flamini
on the bench - and the Gunners suffered most from the changes.
Rooney returned from suspension after missing the defeat to
Manchester City - and made up for lost time by destroying Arsenal
with a blistering first-half display.
The lead is doubled just moments later as Darren
Fletcher heads in after fine work from Nani on the
left.
Fletcher deservedly doubled the lead four minutes later when
Nani opened up Arsenal on the left flank and crossed for the Scot
to head in at the near post.
Rooney continued to terrorise the Arsenal defence and could have
added to his goals tally before United made it three seven minutes
before the interval.
Carrick split the Arsenal defence wide open, leaving Nani to
control and calmly shoot past Lehmann.
Rooney had already tested Lehmann again before Arsenal's misery
increased after 48 minutes when Eboue was rightly sent off for a
raised boot in a tackle on Evra.
The Arsenal defender seemed reluctant to leave the pitch after
referee Alan Wiley brandished the read card, but he had no excuses
because it was an horrendous challenge.
Rooney was in almost unstoppable form, tearing the Arsenal
defence apart almost at will, shooting wide after beating Kolo
Toure and then bringing a fine save from Lehmann - all in the space
of seconds.
Fletcher's thumping header gives the hosts a 4-0 lead in
the 74th minute with Arsenal's defence beaten yet
again.
And with 16 minutes left, United got the fourth goal their
dazzling football deserved when Nani floated up a perfect far post
cross for Fletcher to head in at the far post.
Arsenal, who have enjoyed taunting outclassed teams in the past,
were not enjoying getting a taste of their own medicine and William
Gallas was lucky to escape punishment for an ill-disciplined kick
at Nani.
Substitute Louis Saha almost added a fifth with two minutes left
but keeper Lehmann - who had been blameless in the defeat - saved
well again.
Manchester United 4-0 Arsenal: Gunners boss Arsene
Wenger
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic,
Evra, Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson (Scholes 72), Park, Rooney (Saha
71), Nani.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, O'Shea, Tevez.
Booked: Ferdinand, Rooney, Fletcher.
Goals: Rooney 16, Fletcher 20, Nani 38,
Fletcher 74.
Arsenal: Lehmann, Justin Hoyte, Gallas, Toure,
Traore, Eboue, Fabregas (Flamini 70), Silva, Hleb (Adebayor 70),
Eduardo (Senderos 71), Bendtner.
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Clichy.
Sent Off: Eboue (49).
Booked: Eduardo, Silva, Adebayor.
Att: 76,000
Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).
