When it comes to the FA Cup , Manchester United have edged Barclays Premier League rivals Arsenal in recent years , winning three of their last five meetings . This year , the pair have been pitted against each other once again , in the quarter-finals - the difference this time being that Sir Alex Ferguson will not be in charge of United . Can Arsenal , the current holders , balance the scales and reach the last four ? Manchester United will face Arsenal in the FA Cup for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson 's ( right ) retirement . Manchester United 0 Arsenal 2 - FA Cup fifth-round , February 2003 . Goals either side of half-time saw Arsenal bag a comfortable win over their top-flight rivals . Edu opened the scoring for the Gunners in the 34th minute with a free-kick which deflected off the shoulder of David Beckham and wrong-footed Fabien Barthez . The visitors struck another blow to United 's comeback hopes when Sylvain Wiltord took the ball around Wes Brown before converting a well-placed shot for Arsenal 's second in the 52nd minute , putting the game out of reach . Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy ( left ) tussles with Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira ( right ) Arsenal forward Sylvain Wiltord ( left ) is congratulated by team-mates after scoring his side 's second goal . Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs has an attempt at goal during the FA Cup fifth-round in 2004 . Arsenal 0 Manchester United 1 - FA Cup semi-final , April 2004 . United secured their place in the final by beating Arsenal at Villa Park , where Paul Scholes fired home the only goal . It came just after half an hour when Ryan Giggs squared a ball in from the right to an unmarked Scholes , whose fierce shot sailed past Jens Lehmann . Arsenal did have their chances , however , with Edu and Patrick Vieira both hitting the woodwork and frequently forcing Roy Carroll into action . The defeat ended the Gunners ' 18-match unbeaten FA Cup run , which stretched back to their 2001 defeat to Liverpool in the final . United playmaker Paul Scholes ( centre ) scores the only goal as his side beat Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final . United winger Cristiano Ronaldo ( left ) is brought down by Arsenal defender Gael Clichy ( right ) Arsenal 0 Manchester United 0 ( Arsenal win 5-4 on penalties ) - FA Cup final , May 2005 . Arsenal held on for a goalless draw after a dominant Manchester United performance in the Wembley final , which the Gunners went on to win 5-4 on penalties . United were unable to beat in-form goalkeeper Lehmann , who made crucial saves throughout before saving Scholes ' penalty to clinch the cup . United came close with chances from Wayne Rooney , who hit the post , and Ruud van Nistlerooy , whose effort was deflected onto the bar by Freddie Ljungberg . Come the shoot-out , Arsenal , who had Jose Antonio Reyes sent off in the final minute of extra-time , maintained their composure and scored all five penalties , the fifth converted by Vieira . Arsenal full-back Lauren ( left ) goes to challenge Ronaldo during the FA Cup final in 2005 . Patrick Vieira holds the FA Cup trophy after Arsenal beat Manchester United on penalties in 2005 . Arsenal goalkeeper dives to make a stunning save from Paul Scholes during the 2005 final shoot-out . Manchester United 4 Arsenal 0 - FA Cup fifth-round , February 2008 . A dominant first-half performance saw Manchester United ease to victory over Arsenal in the fifth round . United were 3-0 up by half-time thanks to headed efforts by Rooney and Darren Fletcher which effectively put the game out of reach after 20 minutes , with Nani netting a third just before the break . The Gunners ' luck worsened shortly after the restart when Emmanuel Eboue was sent off for a foul on Patrice Evra , ruling out any glimmer of a comeback . The match was finally put to bed in the 74th minute when Fletcher headed in his second and United 's fourth . Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney ( centre ) loses his man to open the scoring against Arsenal in 2008 . Manchester United 's South Korean midfielder Ji-Sung Park ( right ) crosses the ball past Justin Hoyte ( left ) United midfielder Darren Fletcher ( right ) scores his second and his side 's fourth goal against Arsenal . Manchester United 2 Arsenal 0 - FA Cup quarter-final , March 2011 . United secured a comfortable win over Arsenal in the last eight , silencing a few of Ferguson 's critics . The veteran Scottish manager had come under pressure prior to the game thanks to league defeats at Liverpool and Chelsea , resulting in a drastic squad reshuffle which saw seven defenders start against the Gunners . United went in at half-time 1-0 up thanks to Fabio 's goal , with Rooney putting the game out of reach at the start of the second half . Arsenal 's FA Cup exit came shortly after they had lost to Birmingham in the League Cup final , and to Barcelona in the Champions League . Fabio Da Silva of Manchester United ( right ) shields the ball away from the incoming challenge of Denilson ( left ) Paul Scholes ( centre ) angrily confronts Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh ( right ) back in 2011 . Wayne Rooney ( right ) is congratulated by team-mates Rafael ( left ) and Javier Hernandez ( top )
Manchester United will play Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-finals 2005 . United have won three of their last five meetings in the Cup . Arsenal have not beaten United in the Cup since the final in this year .