Holders Arsenal avoid Liverpool in the semi-final of the FA Cup after dumping Manchester United out of the world’s oldest football competition Monday.
The gunners will face Bradford City or Reading according to a draw held after the North London club defeated United at Old Trafford in a thrilling encounter which ended 2-1 in favour of the visitors.
England striker, Danny Welbeck, who joined the Gunners from United in a £16m deal on deadline day in September, returned to Manchester as Arsenal’s match-winner to score the goal that gave them their first win at Old Trafford since 2006.
It ensures Louis van Gaal, the manager who sanctioned his sale, will end his first season empty-handed.
Nacho Monreal gave Arsenal a first-half lead but Wayne Rooney equalised with a flying header from Angel Di Maria’s cross.
Di Maria was later dismissed for two yellow cards after Welbeck had restored Arsenal’s advantage.
The hero of the night, most certainly, was Welbeck who punished United, the club where he scored 29 goals in 142 appearances before switching to Arsenal after Van Gaal brought in Radamel Falcao.
Welbeck celebrated the goal against his former club in obvious taunt at Van Gaal who let him go after suggesting that the player was not good enough for Manchester United.
And on a great night for manager Arsene Wenger after United had won 11 of the last 15 meetings between the sides in all competitions, Arsenal are now huge favourites to reach another FA Cup final after the semi-final draws were announced.
The Gunners will be hoping the semi-final draw against lower-league opposition can help propel them to a second successive final, having beaten Hull City 3-2 for an 11th FA Cup triumph last May.
But Bradford beat Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the 2012-13 League Cup en route to the final, and have defeated Premier League leaders Chelsea and Sunderland in this season’s FA Cup.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said: “Last year we played a tricky game at Wembley in the semi-final [against Wigan] and we expect that again. We have played Bradford before, we know about that, but let’s enjoy tonight. We played well and deserved to win the game.
“We live in the real world and want to compete in every competition. This result can give us good morale for the Premier League and the [Champions League] game in Monaco.”
Aston Villa will meet Liverpool or Blackburn in the other semi-final match.
Championship side Reading and League One Bradford will replay their last-eight tie on Monday, 16 March with the date for the Blackburn-Liverpool game still to be confirmed.
The semi-final ties are to be played at Wembley on April 18 and 19.
