Manchester United – Arsenal

Join us at 1715 GMT to see Man Utd and Arsenal clash in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2011/0307/robinvanpersietrains20110307_275x155.jpg">Van Persie has fully recovered from injury to be named in the side again.

A strong Arsenal team today: Almunia, Sagna, Djourou, Koscielny, Gibbs, Denilson, Diaby, Wilshere, Nasri, Van Persie, Arshavin.

But no word yet on the United lineup.

Seven defenders on the pitch for United: VDS, Rafael, Smalling, Vidic, Evra, Fabio, Brown, O'Shea, Gibson, Rooney, Hernandez.

We're still not quite sure how United will operate. Perhaps O'Shea will play in midfield with Gibson and Fabio and Rafael will operate wide?

Whatever their formation, surely this represents an excellent chance for Arsenal to prevent their potential for silverware this season shrinking even further.

Here come the teams...

<b>KICK OFF</b>

Rafael does start on the right wing and his block nearly sets up a chance for Hernandez, but he is flagged offside.

Neat interchange between Arshavin and Nasri but the eventual shot is weak and from an angle. VDS scoops up.

Smalling shields the ball well from NAsri.

Late lunge from Rooney on Wilshere. Could have been a yellow but the two shake hands.

Lovely work from Diaby to mug O'Shea, then Nasri drives into the box and crosses but no-one had gambled on it. If they had, it was a tap in.

Arsenal in control at the moment as Wilshere fires the ball wide for Gibbs but his cross is right at VDS.

Cracking challenge from Denilson on Fabio as Man Utd looked to break. Before that Nasri crossed but Diaby was the only one in the penalty area.

By the way, that Gibbs cross counts as an effort on goal, so Arsenal have already bettered their entire haul from the Barcelona game.

Another Nasri cross another VDS collection. The 'keeper then throws it right to a yellow shirt but Arshavin's shot dribbled wide.

Flag up on Arshavin as Denilson looked for him.

Arsenal wanted a foul for Brown's tackle on Gibbs but then Nasri commits a foul on Rafael.

An awful hoofed pass from Gibson. Right out of play on the far side.

First good chance for United as Gibson skips away from two challenges, feeds Fabio and as his cross comes in Rafael gets on the end of his brother's centre and heads over when he should have scored.

Nasri is down but United carry on. A long ball for Hernandez is overhit and Almunia claims before booting the ball out of play.

Poor control from Diaby, then a foul on Rooney.

Nasri nutmegs Evra before clipping the ball for RVP but Smalling came across to clear.

Nice work from Diaby to hand the ball back to Sagna but with two shirts in the box the right back hits the first red shirt.

An aimless pass from Evra, to sum up United's quality in possession so far.

Hernandez is flagged offside from a ball over the top.

More pressure from Arsenal and two good balls into the box are cleared. They're just struggling to find the killer ball at present.

Decent effort from Van Persie from distance as the Arsenal onslaught continues.

A rare break sees the flag go up against Fabio, who has been peripheral at best to date.

Arsenal's fans are lauding their superiority over the home support. 9,000 from London inside Old Trafford.

Diaby runs onto Arshavin's pass and shoots but it is deflected and VDS saves.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Fabio scores!

Two brothers instrumental in the breakaway as Rafael releases Fabio, he lays off to Rooney, his cross finds Hernandez and as Almunia saves well from his header Fabio is on hand to tap home. Quality goal.

Arsenal have had the possession but they did get warning of the brothers' threat from the earlier header. A good counter.

Now Rooney's cross finds Fabio but Gibbs does enough to put him off and header flies away for a throw in.

Now, how will Arsenal recover from their latest setback? They've been the better team for the majority, but now have to chase the game.

Good run from Van Persie who is found by Nasri and as the shot flashes across goal VDS gets a good touch to take it wide.

The corner finds RVP at the near post and he should have done better with his free header.

Lucky for the referee, after he wrongly awards United a free kick, Arsenal clear before Rooney clatters Sagna, fairly, leaving him in a heap on the floor.

It's all too tight for Arsenal as Nasri and Arshavin try to pass in no space and Diaby is offside as it falls to him.

More pressure from outside the box from Arsenal but no final ball.

Rooney lifts a ball over the top for Hernanadez - Arsenal are playing a dangerously high line - but Almunia is out.

Wenger doesn't look happy and well he might. Arsenal are not firing at all this afternoon, despite a lot of possession.

Nearly an opening for Diaby as Arshavin slid him inside the penalty area, he tried to cut in on his right but Smalling stood firm.

The referee seems to be letting a lot of things go this afternoon. He lets Denilson get away with a poor looking tackle on Fabio.

Arshavin passes right to Vidic.

RVP feeds Gibbs but his cross is cleared by O'Shea. Not good enough from Arsenal.

Nice one-two between Hernandez and Rafael but Djourou clears coolly. More cutting edge from United this half.

A good effort on goal as Nasri shimmied into the box looking for a cross but then went low for the near post and VDS pulls off a smart save. Better from Arsenal.

<b>Half time</b> A better ball there from Evra and Fabio was in. Koscielny comes across. And that is half time. A big interval for Arsene Wenger ahead.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2011/0312/fabioceleb20110312_275x155.jpg"><br> Fabio celebrates his opening goal.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Valencia is going to get a taste of action for the first time in six months and Fabio, the goalscorer, makes way. I can only assume it is through injury that Fabio has gone off.

Lovely burst from Wilshere as he swaps passes with Diaby and tries to shoot but Smalling blocks.

What a break from Koscielny! He streaks out of defence, is slipped in by Wilshere, his cross is deflected then saved by VDS, it falls back to the defender's feet and his effort is well saved again by the veteran.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Rooney scores!

What a start to the half! Arsenal should have equalised but now Rooney's made it two. Rafael crosses, Djourou blocks Hernandez's effort but as the ball loops up Rooney is there to nod across Almunia and into the far corner.

That will shake Arsenal to a large extent. Just shows you can have all the possession but it is goals that count.

Rooney breaks from deep and slides in Hernandez but the Mexican had strayed a yard offside.

Back to the pattern of the first half now as Arsenal play in front of United's penalty area.

Wilshere throws his arms up as if to say 'where is the movement?' as he plays yet another square ball.

Chamakh warming up. Surely he'll be on before too long.

Wilshere runs deep and Arshavin tries to pick him out - only a flying boot from Vidic prevents his collecting the pass.

A good chance for Nasri as Sagna's cross is cleared to the edge of the box. He hit a volley into the ground but VDS stands right behind it.

Once again things get too tight for Arsenal outside United's box and Denilson is the culprit this time as the ball falls into red hands.

Nasri breaks forward but Smalling clears and Diaby's effort is terrible.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Denilson trudges off and Chamakh is on.

Valencia has looked good since coming on and he fashions space on the right with Rafael but his cross is a little strong.

Van Persie is clipped by O'Shea and Arsenal have a free kick 25 yards out and central. RVP is interested, as you'd expect.

His curler hits the wall. Poor effort.

Well worked between Nasri and Sagna but the full back's cross when inside the box is poor. Better from Arsenal as RVP bends one narrowly wide of the far post.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Rafael is off and Ryan Giggs comes in.

Nasri gives the ball away, Giggs feeds Rooney and Djourou blocks well before the ball can make it into the area.

So nearly a third for United as Valencia does extremely well to dig out a cross, Smalling nods back to Giggs who takes a touch and is about to score before Wilshere nips it off his toes from five yards out.

Arsenal hit back as Arshavin tees up Chamakh but again VDS gets down smartly for an old man to make a good save.

Before that Giggs chance Valencia had crossed for Hernandez, who was was free at the back post ten yards out, but he timed his header wrong and ended up nodding the ball back from whence it came.

Great ebb and flow to the game now as Rooney brings a long ball under instant control and wins a corner for United.

Wilshere clips the ball in for Chamakh, who gets too heavy a touch, and the ball loops up and is watched onto the back of the bar by VDS.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Double change for Arsenal: Aaron Ramsey on for Diaby and Rosicky on for Arshavin.

Great to see Ramsey back. Its his first taste of first team action since that night at Stoke.

Wilshere has been Arsenal's best player by a country mile. He's having to do everything himself, mop up at the back, launch attacking moves and try to convert them too. There he flashes a shot wide after getting into the area. What a player.

If only Arsenal had a few more like that boy.

Sagna crosses, Chamakh has the chance seven yards out but his header isn't precise enough and again VDS makes a vital save.

More good delilvery from Sagna and Gibbs at the far post but Gibbs decides to head across goal instead of try to beat VDS. It falls to Nasri but his shot is blocked by Chamakh.

Rosicky fires in a fierce effort that Van der Sar saves superbly, the balls rolls across goal but Chamakh is slow on the uptake and Evra gets there first.

United's fans sing: "One more year," at Van der Sar, who has been impeccable tonight.

United breakaway, Giggs feeds Rooney, he crosses for Hernandez but Djourou gets there first on the slide. The ball is dropping into the net but Almunia, who is on the deck, reaches up and claws it away.

Now Djourou is rolling around on the floor. Looks like he may have popped his shoulder.

It was actually Sagna who caused the injury I think. Djourou will shortly be leaving on a stretcher, and Arsenal have made all their substitutions.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Evra has gone off and Scholes is on.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2011/0312/rooneygoal20110312_275x155.jpg"><br> Rooney nods United's second.

A lengthy stoppage which spells bad news for Djourou and Arsenal. He's been given oxygen too.

Ramsey has slotted in alongside Koscielny. Odd choice perhaps.

A poor cross from Hernandez after being fed by Rooney. Gaps everywhere now.

More good possession in a good area for Arsenal but no end product.

United can just keep possession now, with Arsenal knackered and one man short. Rooney fires a volley right at Almunia.

Eight minutes added time....

This has turned into a procession for United now.

Super ball from Scholes to Giggs but the Welshman can;t control the pass.

Now Rooney is through from Scholes' pass but Rooney scuffs his left-footed shot wide from 15 yards out.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Still time for a Scholes yellow after a chopper from behind.

What a chance for Rosicky! Again Sagna delivers good ball and Rosicky misses the ball from seven yards out. Oh dear.

Scholes is losing the plot here. He's crunched in on Nasri, the two square up then he pushes Chamakh for good measure.

Scholes is a lucky boy as Foy brings he and Nasri together and tells them to cut out the naughty stuff.

Almunia with a fantastic save now as Rooney gets through and crosses for Hernandez but his shot from eight yards is saved at point blank range by the 'keeper.

<b>Full time</b> Arsenal fall again and have now been dumped out of three competitions in two weeks. Another miserable night for them, especially with Djourou's injury. It's the title or bust for the Gunners. As for United, a good recovery from defeats at Chelsea and Liverpool.