The FA Cup
Semi-Final
Arsenal v Manchester United
03 April 2004
Villa Park, 12.00pm

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Arsenal

v

Manchester United

Manager

Arsene Wenger

  

Sir Alex Ferguson

Key Man

Patrick Vieira

  

Paul Scholes

FA Cup Top Scorer

Fredrik Ljungberg 4

  

Ruud van Nistelrooy 4


Match Preview

Arsene Wenger's team sit on the top of the Premiership unbeaten and their League form has carried over into The FA Cup with both Leeds United and Middlesbrough comprehensively beaten 4-1 in previous rounds.

In the Fifth Round Arsenal took on Chelsea in The Cup for the fourth consecutive season and while they fell behind to Adrian Mutu's goal, a second half double from Jose Antonio Reyes saw the Gunners win 2-1 and go safely through to the Sixth Round where they faced Portsmouth.

Arsenal's forward play at Fratton Park was outstanding as they scored five wondeful goals - Thierry Henry and Freddie Ljungberg both registering braces.

United beat Northampton Town 3-0 at the Sixfields Stadium in the Fourth Round, following a strong performance away to Aston Villa in the Third Round, where Paul Scholes scored twice.

In the Fifth Round United accounted for City in an entertaining match which finished 4-2. Ruud van Nistelrooy scored twice to add to further goals from Scholes and Ronaldo to dump Kevin Keegan's side out of the competition.

Another home draw in the Sixth Round saw a Ruud van Nistelrooy double enable United come from behind against bogey-team Fulham.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side are looking for a first FA Cup win since their record-breaking tenth win in 1999, the year they claimed their historic Treble. 

Team News

Ashley Cole will be absent due to a knee injury whilst Gilberto Silva will also miss the big match as Arsenal face four crucial matches in nine days.

Ruud van Nistelrooy is also doubtful after he also picked up a knee problem. If the Dutchman is out then Diego Forlan, who scored against Northamption Town in The Cup, should play.

Louis Saha is cup-tied having played for Fulham in the Third Round this season while Nicky Butt and Phil Neville may also miss the match.

Magic Moments

Arsenal's two 4-1 victories saw some fabulous goals go in but none could compare with Jose Antonio Reyes' magnificent strike that saw the Gunners draw level in their Fifth Round match against London rivals Chelsea at Highbury.

Beating Manchester City at home pleased the Old Trafford crowd as did the manner of the win. In a wonderfully free-flowing game, United raced into a 4-1 lead but were pegged back to 4-2 before being put under real pressure at the end.

Cup Run 2003/04

3rd Round Leeds Utd 1-4 Arsenal Aston Villa 1-2 Man Utd
4th Round Arsenal 4-1 Middlesbrough Northampton 0-3 Man Utd
5th Round Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea Man Utd 4-2 Man City
6th Round Portsmouth 1-5 Arsenal Man Utd 2-1 Fulham


FA Cup Pedigree

Arsenal have enjoyed a golden few years of FA Cup success, winning the competition three times in the last six years. In all, the Gunners have won the Cup nine times.

The Gunners reached three consecutive Finals between 1978 and 1980 but only won once - Alan Sunderland's late goal edging Manchester United 3-2 in the classic 1979 Final.

Should Arsenal make it through to another Final this year, they would become the first club to feature in four successive Finals and were they to win they would emulate a Cup hat-trick last achieved by Blackburn Rovers in the 1880s.

Manchester United are the most successful team in the history of The FA Cup, having registered ten wins from their fifteen Final appearances.

But in the past three seasons United have failed to progress beyond the Fifth Round, losing to West Ham, Middlesbrough and Arsenal.

Arsenal v Manchester Utd: Past FA Cup Meetings

Year

Round

Result

1906

Fourth Round

 Manchester Utd 2-3 Arsenal

1937

Fourth Round

 Arsenal 5-0 Manchester Utd

1951

Fifth Round

 Manchester Utd 1-0 Arsenal

1962

Fourth Round

 Manchester Utd 1-0 Arsenal

1979

Final

 Arsenal 3-2 Manchester Utd

1983

Semi-Final

 Arsenal 1-2 Manchester Utd

1988

Fifth Round

 Arsenal 2-1 Manchester Utd

1999

Semi-Final

 Manchester Utd 0-0 aet Arsenal

1999

Semi-Final Replay

 Manchester Utd 2-1 aet Arsenal

2003

Fifth Round

 Manchester Utd 0-2 Arsenal