Rooney 49

Arsenal lost their FA Cup quarter-final at Old Trafford to a Manchester United side with seven players normally selected as defenders.

The Gunners dominated possession and had chances to at least take the tie to a replay.

But a combination of poor finishing and fine shot-stopping by United keeper Edwin van der Sar led to their third Cup defeat in two weeks.

And defender Johan Djourou dislocated his shoulder in a late collision with a colleague and will miss the remainder of the season.

United’s Rafael da Silva headed over on 15 minutes. But his brother Fabio made no mistake on 27 minutes, tapping-in right-footed after Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia parried Javier Hernandez’s header into his path.

Van der Sar saved a Robin Van Persie effort just before half-time and made an outstanding double save from his Dutch compatriot just after half-time.

This was a pivotal moment as United went two-up on 49 minutes, Wayne Rooney heading home from a tight angle after Hernandez had another effort saved.

Marouane Chamakh should have pulled one back moments after coming on but Van der Sar caught his weak downward header and for all their late pressure Arsenal could not break United down.