Manchester United Ease Past Arsenal to Reach FA Cup Semi-Finals

A strong performance from Manchester United sees them through to the Semi-Finals of the FA Cup after a 2-0 win against Arsenal.
A weakened United side without regulars Darren Fletcher, Dimitar Berbatov and Nani were simply too strong for an Arsenal team who were all too often wasteful in front of goal.
United’s Brazilian brothers Fabio and Rafael, both playing in more advanced positions than their usual roles at full back, looked lively throughout and it was Fabio who opened the scoring after 27 minutes. A cross from Wayne Rooney was headed towards goal by Javier Hernandez and the young Brazilian positioned himself well to net the rebound after Arsenal ‘keeper Manuel Almunia initially saved from Hernandez.
Arsenal certainly had their fair share of opportunities with Robin van Persie and Samir Nasri in particular all going close but their efforts were consistently rebuffed by an almost impenetrable looking Edwin van der Sar.

Fabio Da Silva stretches to score Manchester United's
first goal against Arsenal.

United’s second goal came just four minutes after the restart and this time it was Fabio’s twin-brother Rafael’s turn to get involved, with the youngster’s pass finding Hernandez who again had a shot blocked before eventually being headed in by Wayne Rooney. The England striker looked back to this best playing apart in both goals and linking up well with strike-partner Hernandez.
Arsene Wenger’s side looked for more attacking options in the second half with Marouane Chamakh coming on to replace Denilson and the Moroccan international almost halfed the deficit with a header that, unfortunately for Arsenal, fell straight into the arms of van der Sar.
The game was stopped in the 80^th minute for Gunners’ defender Johan Djourou to receive lengthy treatment for what seemed a nasty looking shoulder injury following a collision with team-mate Bacary Sagna, after Almunia again saved well from Hernandez to prevent his side going 3-0 down.
Eight minutes of stoppage time was added to the end of the second half due to the injury suffered by Djourou, but it was still not enough for Arsenal to grab even a consolation goal as the North London side crashed out of their third competition in as many weeks. Manchester United on the other hand will now look forward to tomorrow’s FA Cup Semi-Final draw as they learn who they will face out of Bolton Wanderers, Stoke City or West Ham United and their inter-city rivals Manchester City or Reading.