Saturday's defeat to Arsenal could be Carlisle's last ever FA Cup tie.

Rumours persist that should United, six points adrift in the third division, drop out of the league in May they might slip likewise out of England. A merger with Clydebank has been mooted, the speculation fuelled by David Low's presence amongst the new owners. He once tried to move the Glaswegians to Dublin.

"It's pure speculation at the moment," said the manager Ian Atkins, who may have taken his own bow. He will speak to Low and the Scottish property developer Stephen Brown, the public face of the consortium which has bought the club, today.

On the field, Sylvain Wiltord's smart finish from Patrick Vieira's pass established a lead Arsenal never looked likely to lose.

Vieira was left with a gaping wound below his right knee following an horrific two-footed lunge by Richard Prokas. Steven Lodge deemed the tackle fair. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was furious. "Patrick has to be protected like everyone else. Players who `do' him should be charged like he was earlier this season," he said.

Carlisle: Glennon, Whitehead, Darby (Heggs 53), Winstanley, Birch, Hemmings (Thwaites 86), Connelly, Soley, Prokas, Dobie, Stevens (Halliday 69). Subs Not Used: Hore, Inglis. Booked: Heggs, Hemmings.

Arsenal: Manninger, Dixon, Stepanovs, Vivas, Cole (Malz 85), Parlour, Vieira, Ljungberg (Silvinho 76), Pires, Bergkamp, Wiltord (Danilevicius 81). Subs Not Used: Lukic, Halls. Booked: Vivas, Bergkamp, Parlour. Goals: Wiltord 22.

Att: 15,300

Referee: S Lodge (Barnsley)