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FA Cup Fifth Round Old Trafford Saturday 16 February; KO: 17:15 BST ...:::-----------------------------------------------------:::... After last weekend's shock defeat in the Manchester derby, United will aim to bounce back with victory this Saturday against high-flying Arsenal. With an FA Cup quarter-final berth at stake, an engaging clash is on the cards... Form guide: Two weeks ago, only goal difference separated United and Arsenal in an engaging title race. After taking one point from matches against Tottenham and Manchester City, however, United are suddenly five points behind Arsene Wenger's side. The Gunners have won four straight matches since their Carling Cup annihilation at Spurs, and have lost only three matches in all competitions this season. Ins and outs: Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra should return after suspension for United, while Louis Saha could come into contention for his first appearance since January 5 after rejoining first team training last week. are definitely without Robin van Persie and Abou Diaby, and there are doubts over the fitness of Tomas Rosicky, Denilson and Gilberto Silva. With both sides ready to resume their Champions League campaigns next week, however, don't be surprised to see both managers shuffling their packs. Star men: Much of United's sluggish display against City was attributed to the absence of Wayne Rooney. With the powerhouse striker set to return to the side after suspension, the Gunners will be fearful of a Rooney-led backlash. Not that the Gunners will be apprehensive about conceding, however, with red-hot striker Manu Adebayor in immense form at the moment, with 12 goals to his name from his last nine outings. ...:::-----------------------------------------------------:::... BIG-MATCH FACTS The outstanding tie of the fifth round is Sir Alex Ferguson's 100th as manager of Manchester United. The top two in the Premier League are also the most successful clubs in FA Cup history; United and Arsenal have won the world's oldest football knockout competition 21 times between them and have appeared in a combined 35 finals. This is the 35th time Ferguson will have come up against his opposite number Arsene Wenger. Of the 34 previous encounters United have won 11, Arsenal 13. Eight of the 10 other games finished level and two were decided on penalty shoot-outs; United won the 2003 Community Shield, and Arsenal the 2005 FA Cup final. ...:::-----------------------------------------------------:::... Current form • Won 26 of 36 in all competitions this season. • Won six and drawn one of their seven league and cup games in 2008 (home and away) but lost their last match at Old Trafford, the 2-1 derby defeat to Manchester City on 10 February. Recent FA Cup performance • Only failed to get past the fifth round in one of the last four years, and reached the final in each of the other three, winning in 2004. The Manager • United have only been knocked out by top-flight opposition under Sir Alex Ferguson and have failed to reach the final in 13 of 21 attempts. They have won the cup a record five times in the stewardship of the current manager, who has led out the side for the final on eight occasions. FA Cup fact Drawn against Premier League opposition for the 10th successive round and third this season; knocked out Aston Villa (a) and Tottenham (h) in this current run. ...:::-----------------------------------------------------:::... Current form • Won the last four league and cup games, and lost just one of 16; the second leg of the Carling Cup semi-final 5-1 to Tottenham at White Hart Lane on 22 January. Emmanuel Adebayor has scored 10 goals in his last seven games for the Gunners. Recent FA Cup performance • Finalists in all but one season between 2001 and 2005; but since winning the trophy in 2002, 2003 and 2005, have not got progressed beyond the last 16 (fourth round in 2006, and fifth round last season). The Manager Arsene Wenger has won the trophy with Arsenal four times. The Frenchman was involved in the first final to feature two managers from outside the British Isles; compatriot Gerard Houllier coached Liverpool to a 2-1 victory in 2001. The Gunners have played 63 FA Cup ties under Wenger, losing only seven of them (including one to Leicester on penalties in the fourth round replay in 2000). FA Cup fact • The Gunners have appeared in 17 finals, one fewer than Manchester United. Both clubs share the record for semi-finals appearances at 25 each. HEAD TO HEAD All competitions Arsenal are unbeaten in three matches against United (won two and drawn one in the Premier League) and have not lost to the Red Devils since a 2-0 league reverse at Old Trafford on 9 April 2006. This season's one Premier League meeting at the Emirates Stadium resulted in a 2-2 draw on 3 November 2007. William Gallas put through his own goal to give United the lead, Fabregas equalised soon after half-time, Ronaldo put United back in front with eight minutes remaining and Gallas atoned for his earlier error by securing a point in stoppage time. FA Cup These clubs have been paired with one another 11 times and met on 12 occasions (one replay). They fought out a goalless draw after extra time in the most recent, the 2005 final at the Millennium Stadium. The Gunners won 5-4 in a dramatic penalty shoot-out, to tip the balance in their favour in the FA Cup head to head count. But the most memorable clash between the pair in recent years was the 1999 semi-final, which United won 2-1 in a replay at Villa Park, courtesy of Ryan Giggs' spectacular solo 109th minute goal, and his subsequent shirt-swinging celebration. ...:::-----------------------------------------------------:::... REFEREE:
HEAD TO HEAD
Alan Wiley (Staffordshire)
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