Manchester United (4) da aula de futebol a Arsenal (0)

O Manchester United cilindrou de forma invulgar o seu maior rival o Arsenal em mais uma ronda da Taca da Inglaterra. Numa partida memoravel para os adeptos do Man U, no seu santuario (Old Trafford), a equipa treinada pelo lendario Sri Alex Ferguson, vingou-se de forma peculiar do Arsenal por quatro bolas sem resposta! O sabor da vitoria foi ainda maior para os adeptos do man U, se tomarmos em linha de conta que os quatro principais titulares da equipa de Alex Ferguson nao jogaram: De facto nem Ronaldo, nem Tevez, Giggs ou Scholes alinharam na primeira parte. Alias do quarteto apenas Scholes entrou na segunda parte quando o resultado do jogo estava ja garantido e o Arsenal assistia impavido as gincanas da poderosa maquina montada pela dupla fergusson-Queiros!!

Nani, auxiliado pelo irreverente Rooney, nao deixou seus creditos em maos alheias e foi de forma inequivoca o senhor do jogo, com uma presenca espectacular e um golo soberbo! E caso para dizer, com a vinda de Manucho, os tres mosquiteiros 'portugueses' (Ronaldo, Nani e Manucho) darao que falar em Old Trafford!

Para mais pormenores do jogo viajemos ao Old Trafford na companhia de Roy Colins

Manchester United (3) 4 Arsenal (0) 0

Sir Alex Ferguson and his Manchester United players will attempt to squeeze every advantage out of this crushing victory by endowing it with a significance far beyond their FA Cup ambitions, presenting it as a crucial psychological blow in the race to beat Arsenal to the Premier League title. But it proved only that United harbour a greater desire for winning this competition and, as most people suspected, possess the richer resources to cope with injuries and rotation.

As for Arsenal, at the highest level of the game, this was the closest we have come to abject surrender by a leading club. As hungry and effective as United were, Arsenal's vastly depleted team looked as though they would rather have been anywhere else than the Theatre of Dreams, happy almost to sacrifice the Cup to concentrate on the Premier League and Wednesday's colossal meeting with Champions League holders AC Milan.

Portuguese man of war: Nani celebrates scoring against Arsenal
It will be a different Arsenal team then and a totally different mindset, as it will need to be if they are not to suffer another huge disappointment. And assuming they get something like a first-team squad back, it will also be a different match and a different intensity when these sides meet here again in April, with the league title on the line.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted that the prospect of challenging for three trophies was unrealistic, though his biggest concern is what effect such a huge defeat against their closest rivals will have on his young players as they shape up for the biggest challenges of the season.
Ferguson, anticipating a much more difficult encounter, had warned supporters to "fasten their seat belts". But United had this won before Arsenal had even started their engines, let alone engaged first gear. It was over from the moment a fired-up Wayne Rooney headed United in front after Anderson had directed Nani's header into the heart of the box.
Rooney does not understand the concept of giving any competition, or even any game, priority over another. And catching his infectious mood, United, determined to show that they had recovered from last week's shock derby defeat here, put the tie out of reach before Arsenal had shown even any intent to contest the match. Darren Fletcher headed his first goal for just over a year, and seven minutes from half-time Nani's first FA Cup goal threatened a rout.
Ferguson hailed it as "a fantastic performance. The team showed great nerve and vivacity". Under Wenger, Arsenal have become notoriously bad losers, particularly on this ground, where four years ago, the ending of their record unbeaten run as they sought to post 50-not-out led to the infamous 'Pizzagate' incident.
But there was none of that here. Despite Wenger's occasional posturing on the touchline, this was an Arsenal team not exactly happy to take their punishment but with a badly weakened side, including a bench containing not one fully fit player, certainly acquiescing in defeat.
Ferguson, however, felt that Arsenal captain William Gallas deserved to be sent off for a challenge on Nani in the second half. Ferguson said: "The referee must have a look at that again. He kicked Nani from behind and the referee called both over because they sized each other up. He should have been red-carded."
One Arsenal player who was sent off was Emmanuel Eboue, playing in his first game since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations. It was a harsh decision by referee Alan Wiley, especially as Patrice Evra sought to make a high challenge look worse than it was and was cruel on an already mortally wounded Arsenal.
Both managers tried to insist beforehand that this match offered not just a mouthwatering route towards the final of a trophy they revere but the bonus of putting down an important marker for the Premier League title, which is looking increasingly like a two-horse race.
Sadly, the starting line-ups did not reflect this, United giving Cristiano Ronaldo a day off and dropping Paul Scholes and Carlos Tevez to the bench while Arsenal, through savage injuries, a family bereavement and the more pressing need to field a strong, fresh side against AC Milan, put out half a first team.

Sure, both clubs do want to win the FA Cup but only in the context of it being an adornment to more precious jewels, the Premier League and Champions League. Wenger admitted his side were never competitive but described the Old Trafford pitch as a disgrace, saying: "The groundsman was on our level today."
Fletcher helped himself to a second headed goal in the second half, while substitute Emmanuel Adebayor disgraced himself with a dive that earned him a yellow card.