The hosts have the lead as Fabio da Silva both starts and finish a swift counterattack that left Arsenal's defence in tatters. Fabio took the ball out of the centre circle, passed to his brother Rafael, who laid the ball back to Wayne Rooney. Rooney's cross was brilliant, picking out a completely unmarked Javier Hernandez at the back post, and when the Mexican forward smashed a header goalwards Manuel Almunia could only spill the ball inside his six-yard box. Fabio had continued his swashbuckling forwards run, and was the first to the loose ball, smashing it into the roof of the net to give Manchester United a 1-0 lead. Where was the Arsenal defence there? Someone should probably have attempted to put pressure on one of United's attackers at one point, but they had the freedom of Old Trafford there.
Manchester United Vs. Arsenal FC, FA Cup: Fabio Da Silva Gives United A 1-0 Lead
Arsenal did manage a shot on target slightly before the goal, but Robin van Persie's ambitious 30-yard attempt should never have been expected to trouble Edwin van der Sar. It didn't. Although Arsenal are dominating possession and spending plenty of time camped out in their attacking third, they've achieved no real penetration into the United defence.
See More:
