FA Cup: Manchester United 2 Arsenal 0

Manchester United ensured Arsenal exited their third competition in 13 days with a 2-0 FA Cup quarter-final win at Old Trafford on Saturday.

United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar denied several gilt-edged Arsenal chances to earn a well-deserved clean sheet, while Fabio and Wayne Rooney scored for the hosts to send them into the semi-finals at Wembley.

United’s first goal came on the counter-attack in the 28th minute, with Fabio slamming home into the roof of the net after Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia parried Javier Hernandez’s on-target header into his path.

The Brazilian full-back was substituted off for Ecuadorian Antonio Valencia, who made his first appearance for United since breaking his ankle in September.

Four minutes into the second half, United once again exposed Arsenal on the break and it was a delicate Wayne Rooney header from an acute angle into an unguarded goal that saw United go two ahead.

Arsenal defender Johan Djourou was stretched off late after a clash with team-mate Bacary Sagna, meaning the Londoners finished the match with 10 men, as manager Arsene Wenger had made all three substitutions by that stage.

The loss means Arsenal have bowed out of the Carling Cup (lost to Birmingham in the final), Champions League (lost to Barcelona in the round-of-16) and now the FA Cup within the past two weeks, leaving the English Premier League as the only trophy winger Wenger’s grasp by season’s end.

The win for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men keeps them on track for their first FA Cup triumph since lifting the trophy in 2004.