Argentine international Ángel Di Maria assisted a goal but was later sent off and discarded striker Danny Welbeck returned to haunt Manchester United by scoring the winner, as Arsenal reached the FA Cup semi-finals with an enthralling 2-1 victory at Old Trafford.
England international Welbeck, who joined the Londoners in September after his United career stalled, pounced on a horrendous back pass by Antonio Valencia in the 61st minute to send the holders through.
In a rip-roaring first half Nacho Monreal’s cool finish put Arsenal ahead in the 26th minute but Wayne Rooney’s diving header evened it up three minutes later, following a fine cross from Ángel Di María.
United, who will now ponder a second consecutive season without silverware, ended the match with 10 men after Di María was red-carded for grabbing the referee’s shirt just seconds after being booked for diving.
The goals have dried up for Welbeck since his early burst of form at Arsenal but, on his first appearance at Old Trafford since his 16 million pounds ($24.20 million) move, he produced the game’s decisive moment with a helping hand from Valencia.
There seemed little danger as a high ball was pumped forward but Phil Jones elected to chest the ball to Valencia who wafted a weak pass in the direction of keeper David De Gea.
It never stood a chance and Welbeck clipped the ball round the Spaniard and rolled it into an empty net for only his third Arsenal goal since October.
Source: Buenos Aires Herald