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Gilberto Silva was forced to concede a corner which led to Fletcher feeding Rooney for a fine drive against Lehmann’s leg; Rio Ferdinand, who has never scored for United in more than 100 games, knocked in the rebound but had strayed a fraction offside.In the next move, Van Nistelrooy left Ashley Cole for dead down the right and set up Rooney for another powerful effort, pushed over the bar. So United worked better down the flanks and became the more threatening team as a slow-burner of a first half wore on. They created the first real chance after six minutes, courtesy of Ronaldo, stepping over the ball with bewildering feints, to skip away from Lauren and cross right on to the head of Scholes, unmarked but unable to do any more than nod over the bar from eight yards.Just before the half-hour the game took on a clearer shape, one that favoured Ferguson’s team. But we’ve only ourselves to blame.”The surprise in his gameplan was that it was Rooney who played on the right and Ronaldo on the left, where he made life difficult for Lauren from the start. Where they fell down was in finishing, as has been the case so often this season “In cup football you need a break and we didn’t get it. “We won it with mental strength and resilience more than our usual style.” Sir Alex Ferguson was ultimately good-humoured in defeat, satisfied that his team had “prepared well and played very well”. He sat too deep to offer Van Nistelrooy support, which was the one small success Ars? Wenger might have claimed for crowding the midfield.”We were fortunate not to concede in the second half, because Man United created three or four good chances,” he admitted.

His team-mates converted five immaculate kicks and the much-criticised Jens Lehmann made the crucial save, from poor Paul Scholes, who had been one of United’s few disappointments. They were the better side in extra time as well, but could not profit, so penalties were required, at the end of the ground housing their supporters, who suddenly had no time to worry about Malcolm Glazer.Jose Antonio Reyes was unavailable to take one for Arsenal, having been sent off for a second yellow card in the last minute of extra time. The revised formation, with Dennis Bergkamp starting as the principal attacker, never began to look convincing. The Dutchman was wasted in that role, and Patrick Vieira quickly became eclipsed by his old foe Roy Keane, resurfacing only to strike the winning spot-kick.As United took a solid grip in the second half of normal time, with Keane, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo all outstanding, Rooney hit a post and Ruud van Nistelrooy’s header was scraped off the line. Having scored 29 goals more than Manchester United in the Premiership, they managed one shot here in 120 minutes, trying three different – or indifferent – centre-forwards in the absence of Thierry Henry. Worse, the unsatisfactory, if nail-chewing, drama produced entirely the wrong result, a travesty in fact.After the champagne football of the past couple of weeks, Arsenal were flat, devoid of all fizz and even a touch of class. When it came to the penalty shoot-out, the captain of the Gunners fired the winning bullet..

Arsenal 0 Manchester United 0

After extra time; Arsenal win 5-4 on penalties Attendance: 71,876
It had to come. Twelve years after Andy Linighan’s late, late goal for Arsenal prevented the FA Cup final from having to be decided on penalties, that ghastly outcome finally materialised yesterday. He might even have scored the winner, had he not directed a shot into a forest of Arsenal legs five minutes before the advent of extra time.All the while, Vieira was a figure of increasing anonymity Until it mattered most. Any doubt on that score was removed as he drove them forward after the interval. At 33, he might not the indefatigable midfield dynamo he once was, but the son of Cobh remains a vital cog for United.