Arsenal 1-1 Sheffield United
The FA Cup, Fifth Round
19 February 2005
Highbury



Sheffield United snatched a last minute equaliser at Highbury to set up an FA Cup Fifth Round replay.

Arsenal looked to be heading into the quarter-finals of the competition thanks to Robert Pires' 78th minute goal.

But the Blades were awarded a penalty 30 seconds from time as Philippe Senderos handballed in his penalty area, and Andy Gray stepped forward to level from the spot.

United manager Neil Warnock was delighted with his side and said: "We showed a fantastic never-say-die attitude. We knew we would have to work hard here and in the second half I put Paul Shaw on because I felt we had to go for the win.

"Bergkamp is a super player and I have to say this was perhaps the best chance we had of beating them. But we've got our replay which will delight everyone involved with the club and hopefully now we can fill our ground when they come to Bramall Lane."

The match started slowly but sprung into life on 35 minutes when Dennis Bergkamp was sent off by referee Neale Barry for a push in the face of Sheffield United defender Danny Cullip.

And even though the Gunners had to play almost an hour with ten-men they will be disappointed not to have already booked their place in the next round.

Paddy Kenny produced a great first half save from Jose Antonio Reyes, and pulled off equally good stops in the second period from Mathieu Flamini and Reyes to keep the Blades level.

Sheffield United had an earlier Cullip goal disallowed, and as the game approached the closing stages it seemed the game may be heading for a goalless draw.

But with 12 minutes left on the clock Kenny parried a shot from Flamini, and substitute Pires knocked the rebound into the net to put Arsenal in front.

The Blades refused to give up hope of a replay and were rewarded with a last minute penalty which Gray easily converted, sending Manuel Almunia the wrong way.

Despite the late goal Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was pleased with the result and praised his young side.

The Gunners boss said: "Overall I thought our performance was very good. With 11 versus 11 I think we would have won the game and gone through to the next round.

"But we have a young team and I think that may have showed a little bit at the end when they took a short free kick just before we gave away the penalty.

"After Bergkamp was sent off the players showed great mental strength and I still think the replay gives this team a great chance to qualify."