It was Ferguson, however, who was left smiling after this rout of their title rivals. United were the first to show and won a free-kick in the third minute when Fletcher was obstructed by Alexander Hleb. Anderson swung in the free-kick from the right but Rooney was unable to get any power or direction on his header. Nemanja Vidic then tried to pick out Rooney with a long ball, only for William Gallas to make a crucial interception.
United had started brightly and Anderson cracked in a volley in the ninth minute that Jens Lehmann did well to take cleanly. Arsenal again found themselves on the back foot in the 13th minute when Fletcher found space on the right. He delivered the ball into the area but it just skidded away from Park, who was in a good position. United made the breakthrough in the 16th minute following a corner from Nani.
Anderson flicked the ball on and Rooney headed it beyond Lehmann for his 11th goal of the season. Three minutes later United made it 2-0 after good work by Nani on the left. He chipped the ball into the area and Fletcher marked his first start in two months by heading home, although his effort seemed to take a deflection off Gallas. It was all United at this stage with Arsenal looking lethargic and out of sorts.
Nani and Anderson were showing good skill while Rooney was bright after missing the derby defeat by Manchester City through suspension. He latched on to a pass from Evra in the 32nd minute only to clip his effort wide of the post. Fletcher then picked out Rooney two minutes later but he failed to test Lehmann from inside the area.
However, Arsenal boss Wenger must have been alarmed at the amount of room Rooney was being given. And United made it 3-0 in the 38th minute following a pinpoint pass from Carrick from deep. Nani was alert and skipped goal-side of Hoyte to score with a low drive into the corner. It was becoming a rout with United making Arsenal pay for overtaking them at the top of the league last Monday.
Wenger was shifting uneasily in the technical area after seeing his side being ripped apart in the first half. However he had the option of bringing Adebayor on in the second half in what appeared already to be a damage-limitation exercise.
United started the second half where they had left off in the first with Rooney testing Lehmann in the 47th minute. A minute later the Arsenal goalkeeper had to look alert as a free-kick from Rooney spun off Fletcher. Arsenal's problems increased in the 49th minute when they were reduced to 10 men. Eboue was dismissed by referee Alan Wiley after a clumsy challenge left Evra on the floor.
Eboue refused to accept the decision and questioned the decision before being led away down the touchline. United were spraying the ball around, particularly Carrick, and Arsenal were being constantly stretched. Evra then picked out Nani inside the six-yard box after 58 minutes but his effort was safely taken by Lehmann.
While Lehmann was being kept busy, his opposite number Edwin van der Sar was having little to do. Rooney could have extended United's lead in the space of a couple of minutes but each time his finish was wasteful. Arsenal launched a rare counter-attack in the 64th minute but Eduardo da Silva headed over the top following a cross from Cesc Fabregas. Anderson then found himself in acres of space, only to toe-poke his effort wide of the target. Arsenal striker Adebayor was introduced in the 71st minute but three minutes later United made it 4-0. Fletcher scored his second goal of the game with a header at the far post following a cross from the irrepressible Nani.
The Portuguese star was beginning to showboat - much to the delight of the home fans. However he took exception to the way he was being marked and squared up to Gallas. United could have added to their tally but this was a super show nonetheless and secured their place in the quarter-finals. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson felt the FA Cup drubbing of Arsenal was the perfect response to last week's Manchester derby defeat.
Courtesy : Espn-star
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