Sheffield United v Arsenal
The FA Cup, Fifth Round Replay
01 March 2005
Bramall Lane



Arsenal will be relying on their youngsters as injury and suspensions have left them without their four first-choice strikers for The FA Cup Fifth Round replay against Sheffield United.

With Thierry Henry struck down by an Achilles injury, and Dennis Bergkamp, Jose Antonio Reyes and Robin van Persie all out suspended, Arsene Wenger will be forced to play Freddie Ljungberg up front with one of three inexperienced team-mates for the match at Bramall Lane.

Arturo Lupoli and Quincy Owusu-Abeyie impressed in the League Cup this year and Jeremie Aliadiere has recently returned to training but the situation is far from ideal for the Premiership Champions.

Aliadiere, 21, has enjoyed the most first-team football of the trio but he has played only 60 minutes in the reserves since damaging knee ligaments in the Community Shield in August and Wenger will be wary of another setback for the young Frenchman.

Lupoli is just 17-years-old but he sniffs out chances like a seasoned professional and has been scoring for fun in his fledgling Arsenal career.

Since joining the Gunners from Parma, the Italian Under-17 international has scored 19 goals in 20 appearances for the Reserves and the Youth team, and he made the step up against top flight opposition in the League Cup with two goals in his three starts in the competition this season.

Former Ajax youngster Quincy at 19 is older than his prolific Italian team-mate.

The Dutchman is an entertaining dribbler who Wenger has rewarded with substitute appearances in the FA Cup and Champions League this season, as well as his chances in the League Cup.

Of the two younger options Wenger has two distinct choices: either the out-and-out goalscoring ability of Lupoli or the direct running of Quincy, the two combined brilliantly against Everton and Manchester City in one Cup already this season, and Sheffield United should beware.