Arsenal to face Man Utd

Arsene Wenger: the Arsenal boss will face rivals Man Utd

14 April 2012

Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson will clash twice in a week after Arsenal and Manchester United were drawn against each other in the FA Cup semi-finals on 4 April.

The two teams also face each other in the Premiership on 28 March at Highbury in what is being billed as a title decider.

It means Wenger's men will have their biggest possible test if they are to secure their third successive Cup triumph and win a third domestic Double in seven seasons.

In the other tie, Millwall will face fellow First Division club Sunderland if they beat Tranmere in their quarter-final replay a week tomorrow.

It gives the Lions, who drew 0-0 against the Merseysiders yesterday, a great chance of reaching the first FA Cup Final in their history. And the winner of that semi-final will qualify for the UEFA Cup regardless of the result in the final since Arsenal and United are certain to qualify for the Champions League.

Arsenal have not lost in 19 consecutive ties in the FA Cup, dating back to Liverpool's victory in the 2001 final. Victory at the Millennium Stadium on 22 May would match Blackburn Rovers's achievement of three successive Cup wins in the 1880s and Manchester United's overall record of 10 Cup successes.

The Gunners beat United 2-0 in the fifth round at Old Trafford last season, a match made famous by the bust-up between Sir Alex Ferguson and David Beckham in the dressing room after the game when Ferguson kicked a boot, which hit the England captain.

United have not reached the last four since the two sides met in a replay at Villa Park in 1999, when Ryan Giggs scored a spectacular solo winner with his team down to 10 men following Roy Keane's dismissal.

The choice of venues for the semi-finals is likely to prove controversial as the Football Association immediately confirmed that the Arsenal-United tie will be at Villa Park, which has a 42,600 capacity, and the First Division teams will play at Old Trafford, which holds 68,000.

The only other Premiership ground with a capacity of more than 50,000 is Newcastle's St James' Park, but that was ruled out because of travel issues.

As a result of United's semi-final, their planned match at home to Charlton on 3 April has now been postponed.

Millwall have already beaten Mick McCarthy's Sunderland team twice in the League this season.

Player-manager Dennis Wise said: "We wanted to avoid the big boys and I'm sure Sunderland did too. Against United or Arsenal things would be very difficult. But we have to go to Tranmere first for the replay and that will not be easy. We are just pleased that we are still in there."

Assistant boss Ray Wilkins added: "It's a breath-taking draw. We have an opportunity to play a team from our own division with the added carrot of the Millennium Stadium at the end of it."

Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy said: "If Millwall win the replay I guess we're underdogs - they've beaten us twice this season so hopefully it'll be third time lucky."

Millwall will bank a £380,000 bonus from their televised quarter-final replay against Tranmere.

Sky Sports announced today that they will screen next week's game from Prenton Park.

The south London club will receive £265,000 television money and a 45 per cent share of the gate receipts from the game.

It is a certain 16,500 sellout, so Millwall can expect to further bolster their coffers to the tune of £115,000 and earn an overall £380,000 from the replay regardless of the result.

FA Cup draw

Sunderland v Millwall/Tranmere
Arsenal v Man Utd

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