SOCCER: Manchester United and Arsenal, the top two teams in the Premiership, have been paired together in the FA Cup fifth-round draw, emphatically ending Arsenal's run of good luck which has seen them get this far by beating Third Division Oxford United and Farnborough of the Conference, both at Highbury.
United were at once installed as favourites to win the trophy but the draw was not welcomed at Old Trafford.
"Personally I'm disappointed," the club's chief executive, David Gill, said. "I know we'd probably have had to beat them at some point to win the Cup but I would have preferred an easier draw now."
With both sides picking up their European campaigns the following week, neither will welcome this meeting. Arsenal are at home to Ajax on the Tuesday and United are hosts to Juventus the day after.
It is United's third consecutive home tie, after they beat the First Division leaders Portsmouth and the Premiership's bottom club West Ham in the previous rounds.
"You always look to get a home draw and I'm sure United will be happy with that," said their former defender Gary Pallister, who conducted the draw with his one-time Old Trafford team-mate Bryan Robson.
The clubs last met in the cup in the semi-finals four years ago, when Dennis Bergkamp missed a late penalty and a spectacular Ryan Giggs goal in extra-time took United into the final. The club went on to win the treble of Premiership, FA Cup and European Cup.
Liverpool and Leeds United will meet at Anfield, if they can win home replays against Crystal Palace and Gillingham respectively. "Obviously I'm very pleased with the draw, or the possible draw, but first we've got a mountain to climb at Elland Road," said the Gillingham player-manager Andy Hessenthaler.
Last season's beaten finalists Chelsea, having survived a trip to Shrewsbury, must now go to Stoke. "We are scrapping for our lives in the First Division," said the Potters' manager Tony Pulis. "This is a nice distraction, but the players have got to realise it's the icing on the cake and the cake is staying in the First Division."
The Rochdale manager, Paul Simpson, welcomed the chance to visit one of his former clubs Wolverhampton, reward for beating another First Division team, Coventry City, in the fourth round.
"This is a fantastic tie for us," he said. "Wolves are a Premiership side in all but league position, it's a great place to go and hopefully we won't let ourselves down. We've been up against First Division sides before and managed to beat them and let's hope we can do it for a third time."
But Watford goalkeeper Alec Chamberlain, whose side provided the other shock of the last round by beating West Brom, was less jubilant about a trip to Blackburn or Sunderland.
"Ideally we wanted a home draw but you have to go with what you're given; it is Premiership opposition after all," he said. "We won't be expected to go to either place and win. But then underdogs - and the surprises they pull off - are what the cup is all about."
Norwich, narrow winners against Dagenham on Saturday, must visit Southampton or Millwall, while Burnley travel to Fulham. Sheffield United, who beat Ipswich 4-3 at Bramall Lane on Saturday, will welcome Walsall with their manager Neil Warnock insisting he would be happy to concentrate on consolidating the Blades' third place in the First Division.
"We had a weakened team out on Saturday and it would not have bothered me to go out," he said. "But we have been rewarded with another home draw. Cup fever has taken over our fans at the moment but our priority is pushing for automatic promotion."
Walsall manager Colin Lee said: "It will be a tough game but we have a better chance of beating Sheffield United than Manchester United." It is a sentiment that Arsene Wenger may well understand.
Guardian Service
