Manchester United thrash feeble Arsenal

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February 17, 2008 01:05 IST

The eagerly-awaited FA Cup fifth-round clash between England's two top teams turned out to be a one-sided affair on Saturday as Manchester United thumped 10-man Arsenal 4-0 at Old Trafford.

United were 3-0 up after 38 minutes through Wayne Rooney, Darren Fletcher and Nani as Arsenal's injury-hit side looked badly off the pace and short of motivation.

United, also without some leading players, were just as dominant after the break and Arsenal suffered a further setback five minutes after the restart when Emmanuel Eboue was sent off for a wild challenge on Patrice Evra.

Both teams then made substitutions to rest players for midweek Champions League games but United remained on top and got the fourth with another Fletcher header after 74 minutes.

Liverpool were knocked out of the FA Cup in stunning fashion when Championship (second division) Barnsley beat them 2-1 at Anfield with a last-minute goal by Brian Howard.

Liverpool led through Dirk Kuyt but a Stephen Foster equaliser and brilliant goalkeeping by debutant Luke Steele kept Barnsley in the game before Howard drove in the winner.

Frank Lampard scored twice as holders Chelsea progressed with a 3-1 home win over League One (third division) Huddersfield Town while League Two Bristol Rovers upset League One Southampton 1-0 with a late goal on his 26th birthday by Rickie Lambert.

In two all-Championship ties, West Bromwich Albion thrashed Coventry City 5-0 away and Cardiff City beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 while Manchester United faced Arsenal at Old Trafford later on Saturday.

After Saturday's six ties only two Premier League teams will be in Monday's quarter-final draw and the remaining two in the competition, Portsmouth and Middlesbrough, both face tough away games at Preston North End and Sheffield United respectively.

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