Manchester United – Arsenal

Good afternoon all and welcome to live coverage of THE tie of the FA CUP this weekend with me, Chris Murphy. Its the big one, the pie chuckers versus the pizza throwers, Manchester United v Arsenal.

The reigning Premier League champions line up like this: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson, Park, Rooney, Nani.

The reigning Premier League champions line up like this: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson, Park, Rooney, Nani.

Adebayor is missing for Arsenal sadly, and they line up like this: Lehmann, Hoyte, Gallas, Toure, Traore, Eboue, Fabregas, Silva, Hleb, Eduardo, Bendtner.

Adebayor is missing for Arsenal sadly, and they line up like this: Lehmann, Hoyte, Gallas, Toure, Traore, Eboue, Fabregas, Silva, Hleb, Eduardo, Bendtner.

So, Adebayor out for Arsenal and Ronaldo missing for Manchester United - a shame for us viewers but it still should be an action packed - not to mention fractious - encounter.

Arsenal have a huge chance to stick the boot into United here. Just think how they will feel to have been humbled twice at Old Trafford in a week, once by their local rivals who seriously dented their title hopes, then dumped out of the cup by the team who lead them atop the Premier League?

Right, referee Alan Wiley peeps his whistle, and we're off.

First thing to report is the state of the pitch - it looks very wet in patches.

First bright move from Arsenal, Bendtner and Eduardo trying to link up on the edge of the box, the latter's through ball was overhit however.

First bright move from Arsenal, Bendtner and Eduardo trying to link up on the edge of the box, the latter's through ball was overhit however.

First bright move from Arsenal, Bendtner and Eduardo trying to link up on the edge of the box, the latter's through ball was overhit however.

Anderson firss in the first shot of real venom and Lehmann makes a smart save at his near post.

Apologies 0 our gamecast service is having a few tech 'issiues' this afternoon.

More bright attacking moves from United as Nani breaks down the left and looks for Rooney. He wins a corner.

Vidic climbs to meet the corner but his header flicks off an Arsenal boot and Nani will try again with another corner.

The second corner is deep and Lehmann claims comfortably.

Lehamnn has to race off his line to clear from under Rooney's feet after a Kolo Toure back pass fell short. Good work by the German.

Then a Fletcher cross falls nicely in the box for Anderson but Park takes it off his boot and wastes the chance.

An uncharacteristic pass from Fabregas - nowhere near anyone.

More good enterprise from Evra who wins another corner on the left for United.

GOAL! Wayne Rooney! Vidic met the corner and nodded goalwards and Rooney flicked on past Lehamnn. Manchester United 1-0 Arsenal.

Nani's corners had looked dangerous to date and now Rooney has made Arsenal pay for their aerial indifference.

Arsenal had a chance to pull one back there as Eduardo slid in Bendtner inside the United area but the ball just trickled out for a goal kick.

What a run from Anderson! He beats a couple of men in a jinking 60-yard run but loses control inside the Arsenal penalty box.

GOAL! Darren Fletcher nods in at the near post after great work from Nani. Arsenal are in pieces. Manchester United 2-0 Arsenal.

Ooh, it was nearly three! Arsenal are in tatters at the back! Park crosses for Rooney this time and his header just loops over.

What a purple patch from the home side! Two goals in four minutes. As my soccernet colleague - and rampant Manchester United fan - John Brewin has just asked, why didn't they play like this last week?!

Now Toure is punished for handball when a Carrick through ball hit his chest. Free kick 35 yards out.

Nani's ball goes all the way through to Lehmann.

Terrible football from Traore there. Eduardo played him in down the left but the full back miscontrolled, then dawdled and Wes Brown robbed him of the ball. What has happened to Arsenal?

As you'd expect, the Stretford End is in full voice. Surely they can't have been expected to be two up in 16 minutes!

A great slice of end to end action there as an Eduardo cross is volleyed goalwards by Hleb, but Evra got in a block, then an Anderson through ball found Rooney onside but he couldn't reach it before the onrushing Lehmann.

Another corner for United but this time Nani's delivery is poor and its a goal kick.

Arsene Wenger is not chuffed as Wayne Rooney is allowed to try an ambitous shot on the turn. It doesn't trouble Lehmann however.

Old Trafford sings in unison, 'Wenger, what's the score?'

Some lovely one touch stuff again from United but Gilberto does well to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick.

Another chance for Rooney as Nani plays him in over top. The England striker tried to flick it over Gallas but when that didn't work he struck it left footed on the volley and it flew five yards wide.

A half decent ball into the box from Traore as Arsenal try and redress the balance but Bendtner's header goes well wide.

What a great move by United! Fletcher beat two men, hit an early cross which Rooney chests down and away from Gallas but his right footed shot was mis-hit and it screws wide. Great football.

Anderson has been superb in this game so far. Could we have another Ronaldo on our hands?

The ole's are already out at Old Trafford and we are only 36 minutes in!

GOAL! Game over! Nani fires left footed past Lehmann after a superb ball from Carrick. Manchester United 3-0 Arsenal!

This has been a merciless demolition of the Premier League leaders by Manchester United, who have looked completely unstoppable so far.

If you'd had a flutter on United to be 3-0 up at half time you'd have got odds of 50-1!

Gallas was too high up the pitch for the third goal, allowing Nani to run in behind and collect Carrick's pinpoint pass which sailed over the Arsenal skipper.

Now a borderline offside decision robs Rooney of the chance to make it four, as he burst clear of Toure.

More trickery down the right this time as Wes Brown gets in on the act with a lovely flick. His cross is undercooked however.

Traore sums up Arsenal's first half by completely shanking a left footed cross into the Stretford End under absolutely no pressure whatsoever. Awful.

Anderson is taking the mickey now, shielding the ball in the corner from an increasingly irate Kolo Toure.

The half ends with a very ambitious drive from Michael Carrick - who is choc full of confidence - but it goes high and wide. What an opening 45 minutes for Manchester United. They have been imperious. See you back here in 15 minutes.

We're off again...

Early free kick for United in a dangerous position wide on the left.

Toure clears well from Nani's delivery.

Park does well to leap above Traore and find Rooney whose volley is well saved by Lehmann. United have carried on where they left on in the first half!

Now Eduardo will get a booking after he slipped and crashed into Nani.

From the free kick Rooney blasts goalwards and a little flick off Fletcher prompts Lehamnn into a decent save.

Its all gone horribly wrong for Arsenal as Eboue flies into an aerial challenge with Evra with his foot high and wreckless. Alan Wiley does not hesitate to pull out his red card, and quite rightly.

Eboue takes an age to get off the pitch to howls of derision from the home support. What was he thinkg? It was an awful episode.

Now Rio Ferdinand gets a yellow card for a poor challenge on Nicklas Bendtner when there was no need to pile in.

Arsenal's 9,000 supporters are distraught - those who are still in the ground that is.

Eboue's madness has seen to it that any lingering hopes of Arsenal making a game of it have been well and truly dashed.

Another thrusting forward break from Anderson, who slides the ball to Rooney who miscontrols.

A great spell of closing down from United which forces Arsenal back to Lehamnn who slices his clearance out of play. From the throw Nani flicks in a cross which the German keeper has to be on his toes to claim.

Another defence splitting pass from Carrick but Park Ji-Sung can't bring it down. Park lost Traore easily there and the Arsenal defender is having an absolute nightmare.

The hunger and desire on show from United, even at three nil up, is admirable. They are still BANG up for this.

Rooney now gets needlessly booked for holding on to the ball when Arsenal had won a free kick. Stupid really.

Now a yellow for Gilberto who chops down a rampaging Park Ji-Sung. A cynical foul.

Yet more goalmouth action from United as Rooney brings down a sublime Carrick ball before turning Toure and shooting just wide.

Another great chance for Rooney! Clean through he hits Lehmann with his effort, then tries to pick out Nani from the rebound when he should have smashed it goalwards.

BREAKING NEWS ALERT: Arsenal in meaningful chance shock! Fabregas crosses, Bendtner rises to meet it and his head flashes just over the bar. The Gunners' first attack of note, and it comes in the 64th minute.

United are camped in Arsenal's half at present. The fourth is surely not far away.

Good chance for Anderson this time, found with a lovely crossfield ball from Rooney. Anderson's toe-poked shot isn't his best however.

Substitutions can't be far away with the game settled and both teams in Champions League action midweek.

Yet another smart move from United as Rooney and Carrick combine to provide Anderson with a chance to curl one, but Lehmann covers well.

Now Nani has acres of space but curls his shot yards wide.

Changes for abject Arsenal: Eduardo, Hleb and Fabregas are off, Adebayor, Senderos and Flamini are on.

Now United change things, Anderson and Rooney off to rousing receptions and Scholes and Saha on.

Even Fabio Capello, who is in the crowd watching, applauded Rooney off. He was magnificent, but Anderson was even better. What a player.

GOAL! Fletcher again! Great work from Nani, who tricks Hoyte before crossing for Fletcher to head powerfully past Lehmann at the back post. Manchester United 4-0 Arsenal.

The goalscroing Fletcher is now booked for a lunge on Senderos. His earlier goal has been credited as a William Gallas own goal by the way.

NOw Adebayor is carded for the most pathetic dive I have ever seen inside the area! Shame on you!

Now Nani indulges in a spot of ball juggling before Flamini crashes into him to win the ball. Arsenal's players did not like that at all!

Now Gallas has a kick out at Nani after the ball had gone, then the pair square up. Gallas should be sent off for that, but it is just a stern word from Alan Wiley.

Arsenal are disintergrating here. Their rage at such a poor performance could cost them dear if they are not careful.

An awful touch from Fletcher as the ball fell to him on the edge of the box! He had a clear sight of goal as well..

Gilberto has to be careful here. He stopped Saha in his tracks there and concedes another free kick.

I can't begin to express how poor Arsenal have been today. They have been majestic for much of the season - the Carling Cup semi with Spurs apart - but they have been blown away this afternoon.

The game is petering out here and Arsenal's misery is nearly over. The Gunners cannot wait to get out of Old Trafford.

There are about 65 of the 9,000 Arsenal fans who came to the game left in their section at present.

On reflection, Arsenal can count themselves lucky not to have shipped about seven goals today, such has been United's dominance. Nani causes havoc again there and his cross is nipped off Saha's boot by Toure.

The abysmal Traore tries to take his frustration out on Nani there with a wild lunge.

A great chance for Saha! super ball from Carrick and Saha was clean through but his shot cannons off Lehmann and Arsenal avoid conceding a fifth.

Three minutes added.

What a performance from United. All the talk before the game was that another home defeat could have killed their season. But they are alive and kicking after thrashing an atrocious Arsenal team today. It honestly could have been nine nil. Crazy.

Ooh, Saha nearly scores again! His shot goes narrowly wide after an Evra cut back.

There we are! What a game, what a demolition job from Manchester United. Arsenal have been truly humbled. Don't forget to visit soccernet for all the Champions League action in midweek. Until then..