Manchester United 1-2 Arsenal: Danny Welbeck comes back to haunt Louis van Gaal by netting winner to send Gunners through to FA Cup semi-final as Angel di Maria sees red
- Arsenal defender Nacho Monreal opened the scoring in the 25th minute by slotting past David de Gea
- Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney netted equaliser just four minutes after Monreal's opener
- Former Red Devils striker Danny Welbeck capitalised on defensive error by Antonio Valencia to score winner
- Angel di Maria was sent off in the 77th minute after receiving second yellow card for pushing Michael Oliver
- West Brom striker Saido Berahino was at Old Trafford to watch Manchester United's match against Arsenal
- Arsenal will battle it out with either Bradford or Reading to reach FA Cup final
- READ: Classy Welbeck steals the show to help his side progress to the next round
There
was none of that decorum nonsense from Danny Welbeck. When he scored
the goal that knocked Manchester United out of the FA Cup he knew
exactly what to do. He partied, like it was 1999.
Not
the full shirt off Ryan Giggs perhaps, but a joyful outpouring of
emotion and energy at what once was his theatre of dreams. No more.
United sold Welbeck to Arsenal in the summer and manager Louis van Gaal
had some rather brutal observations about the decision. 'A substitute,
not a line-up player,' was Van Gaal's explanation for Welbeck's
departure. 'I don't have to prove I was right – if that was not a good
enough reason, then I'm not a good manager.'
Welbeck
will loved answering that last part, chiselling away at the rapidly
emerging cracks in Van Gaal's regime. Barring the greatest comeback
since Carrie Manchester United will not win a trophy this season. It
will be the first time they have gone two campaigns without a major
prize since 1988-89, and with good reason.
Humiliated
in the Capital One Cup by Milton Keynes Dons, they are riding their
luck in the Premier League and lost to the better team here. Arsenal
deserved this. They were the faster, finer football and United's howls
of fury at referee Michael Oliver were misdirected. Angel di Maria had
to go – for diving and then manhandling the official in protest – and
Adnan Januzaj's simulation with five minutes remaining was worse. The
best two saves of the night were from Manchester United goalkeeper David
de Gea. Arsenal's first win at Old Trafford since 2006 was justice
done.
Former Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck struck past David de Gea to eliminate his former side from the FA Cup
Welbeck placed the ball into an empty net to capitalise on a mistake by Manchester United right back Antonio Valencia
Manchester United playmaker Angel di Maria received a second yellow card after pushing Premier League referee Michael Oliver
The Premier League's record signing puts his hands on referee Oliver following his first yellow card for diving
The
locals will not begrudge Welbeck his moment either, or resent his
celebration. They did not want him to leave and confirmed that support
by applauding him all the way to the bench when he was replaced by
Olivier Giroud after 72 minutes. By then, the damage had been done.
Those that are increasingly disenchanted with Van Gaal’s regime will see
the academy player returning to torment United as poetic justice.
So
good for Welbeck, who had a point to prove and was rightly in no mood
to make nice with the regime that rejected him at Old Trafford. As his
goal went in, he chose not to hang his head or look mildly embarrassed
or ashamed. Why should he apologise? United had their chance and sent
him packing to one of their greatest rivals. There was always the chance
this might happen.
It
was a painful goal for United to concede, too – evidence of a team
straining under pressure, and surely unable to maintain their good
fortune in league matches for much longer. Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool,
Manchester City and Chelsea are four of the next five opponents.
Arsenal are back in May. Defensively, they must do better than this to
qualify for the Champions League next season.
It
was a long hoof upfield, collected by Phil Jones and fed out to Antonio
Valencia under pressure that did for United. Closed down swiftly,
Valencia panicked and played a pass back to De Gea. It was under-hit and
Welbeck was on it in a flash. He knocked it past the goalkeeper, who
was then stranded in no man’s land and finished into an empty net.
United have shown they can rescue matches at the death this season but
Arsenal were too good for that. As the minutes drained away, with Van
Gaal now perched at the outer edge of his technical area, United’s
discipline fell apart.
Di
Maria went down a little too easily under pressure from Aaron Ramsey –
there was contact, but it was a tiny pull and nothing that would cause a
man’s legs to buckle – was booked, and then tugged at referee Oliver’s
shirt while protesting his innocence. The result? An immediate second
yellow card and a walk to the tunnel. Incredibly, some clapped him off.
Why? He didn’t play badly but any momentum from one of his stronger
performances will be lost with the suspension. It is a big game on
Sunday, too, against Tottenham. Di Maria was no hero, or victim. The
dive that then followed, by Januzaj, was even worse. Coming in front of
the Stretford End, it is to Oliver’s credit that he made the call. That
is Januzaj’s third booking of the season for diving, the worst record of
any player in this campaign, or the last. He has been around the
English game long enough now to know better.
While
United were hitting the deck in search of an equaliser, Arsenal were
bringing the absolute best out of De Gea. He made two quite brilliant
saves – the first from a Santi Cazorla volley after 74 minutes, the
second when Mesut Ozil found Alexis Sanchez four minutes into injury
time. Some will wonder why Ozil didn’t have a go himself – but if
Arsenal did the expected around goal, they would never have scored their
first.
Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney cancelled out Nacho Monreal's opener by heading past Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny
Rooney leaped above Arsenal's defence to divert a cross by Manchester United team-mate Di Maria past Szczesny
Arsenal goalkeeper Szczesny, who replaced David Ospina, was unable to keep out Rooney's diving header
Ashley Young celebrates with Rooney following the Manchester United and England captain's equaliser
Coaches
say a defence has to prepare in a totally different way for a meeting
with Arsenal. Arsene Wenger’s team might get the ball into good crossing
positions, and then work it out and around instead. They will be
perfectly placed to shoot and attempt the extra pass that makes scoring a
certainty. Sometimes, it pays off. And when it does, it produces goals
like the one scored here, after 25 minutes.
Nacho
Monreal slipped a ball inside to Ozil, who carried it from inside left
to a central position, roughly 25 yards out. Space opened up to invite
the shot, but instead he played a square ball out to Alex
Oxlade-Chamberlain on the right. At first it seemed a puzzling option,
and then Oxlade-Chamberlain burst towards the penalty area, taking on
and beating Shaw, Valencia and Chris Smalling, before finding Monreal,
now charging into vacant space with only De Gea to beat. His finish was
perfect, contrasting with the fact it was only his second goal for the
club.
Yet
United have been finding ways to win – or at least not to lose – this
season under Van Gaal and for a while it seemed they might do that
again. Di Maria has been a problem patient for much of this season, but
this was better from him and his cross for the equaliser just four
minutes later was a reminder of what a superb player he can be, on
form.
From
the right, it bisected Arsenal centre halves Laurent Koscielny and Per
Mertesacker, falling on the head of Wayne Rooney who, throwing himself
at the ball from close range, left Wojciech Szczesny with no chance. On
the bench, Ryan Giggs nobly resisted the temptation to pinch one of Van
Gaal’s rosy cheeks and remind him that this is what can happen if he
plays the club’s best striker in a position where he can score goals.
Rooney has found the net each of his last three meetings with Arsenal.
FA
Cup success eludes him, though, just as it has eluded Manchester United
since 2004. They are not entirely finished with this competition, as
their seven bookings will earn FA censure, but there is nothing left in
it for them bar a financial penalty. For Arsenal the only downside was a
hamstring injury which will keep Oxlade-Chamberlain out of important
matches for club and country. The semi-final pairing with Bradford City
or Reading will have done nothing to dampen the mood, either; although
for Van Gaal it will only underline the opportunity missed.
Arsenal left back Nacho Monreal jumps in the air after putting his side in the lead as Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain watches on
Arsenal defender Monreal slotted the ball past fellow countryman De Gea to score his first goal of the season
The 29-year-old Arsenal defender runs away in celebration after opening the scoring in the 25th minute
Chris Smalling watches on as Monreal places the ball past Manchester United goalkeeper De Gea
Di Maria congratulates Rooney following the Englishman's third goal in his last three games
Arsenal's Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla looked dejected after Rooney cancelled out Monreal's opener
Rooney shares a word with former Manchester United team-mate Welbeck during the quarter-final clash at Old Trafford
Manchester United midfielder Marouane
Fellaini appears to catch Arsenal's Francis Coquelin in the face during a
first-half tussle
Coquelin required medical treatment from Arsenal's first team physio after Fellaini's challenge
Smalling, Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo and Rooney form a defensive wall as Cazorla shoots at goal
Arsenal duo Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker keep a close eye on Manchester United striker Rooney
Oxlade-Chamberlain had to be replaced by Arsenal team-mate Aaron Ramsey in the 51st minute after sustaining an injury
Manchester United substitute Adnan Januzaj was booked for diving during the closing stages of the match
West Brom striker Saido Berahino was at Old Trafford to watch Manchester United take on Arsenal
Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was at Old Trafford to watch his former side take on Arsenal
Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel attended the match at Old Trafford with his son Kasper
Suspended Manchester United defender Jonny Evans takes his seat before his side's FA Cup encounter against Arsenal
Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal waves to the Old Trafford crowd ahead of the FA Cup quarter-final clash
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger walks down the Old Trafford touchline before taking his seat in the away dugout
Manchester United fans displayed large banners to pay respect to club legends such as Ryan Giggs and Sir Matt Busby
Arsenal duo Cazorla and Laurent
Koscielny celebrate in front of their fans after the final whistle,
while Rooney shakes hands with Welbeck
Comments