Man United hosts Arsenal in FA Cup fifth round
LONDON: Manchester United will be at home to Arsenal in the standout tie of the fifth round of the FA Cup following Monday's draw.
United is seeking to extend its record number of FA Cup wins to 12 while Arsenal, the second-most successful club in the competition's history, needs one more success to match United's current tally.
Holder Chelsea will expect to advance after being given a home draw against League One (third division) Huddersfield Town, as will Liverpool, at home to Championship (second division) Barnsley.
Only six Premier League teams made it into the last 16 and the two from outside the "big four" both got awkward away games against Championship sides who took Premier scalps at the weekend.
Middlesbrough, which struggled to get past Mansfield on Saturday, now visits Sheffield United, which knocked out Manchester City, while Portsmouth is at Preston North End, who had an impressive 4-1 win at Derby County.
Bristol Rovers of League One have a good chance for a rare taste of the sixth round, having been drawn at home to Championship side Southampton.
Championship leaders West Bromwich Albion is at Coventry City while, in another all-Championship clash, Cardiff City hosts Wolverhampton Wanderers, where Cardiff manager Dave Jones will be facing his former club.
United and Arsenal have had some titanic meetings in recent seasons, though their last in the FA Cup was the goalless final in 2005, which Arsenal won on penalties.
United won a 2004 semifinal 1-0 at Villa Park while Arsenal triumphed 2-0 at Old Trafford in the fifth round in 2003.
However, the most famous clash of recent years was the 1999 semifinal, which United won 2-1 in a replay after Ryan Giggs's spectacular solo goal in extra time.
Chelsea needed a late goal by Eidur Gudjohnsen to secure a 2-1 home win over Huddersfield two years ago while the Yorkshire side did win at Stamford Bridge in the League Cup in 1999.
The matches will be played over the weekend of February 16-17 with the final at Wembley on May 17.
Agencies
(China Daily 01/30/2008 page24)
