UNITED suffered the ultimate heartbreak in the FA Cup final after Paul Scholes' missed penalty cost them a shoot-out victory.
The Reds had put Arsenal under intense pressure for the majority of the match, but slack finishing cost them the chance to finish the match in regular time and left United trophyless once more.
Wayne Rooney and Ruud Van Nistelrooy both hit the post, while Rio Ferdinand had a goal disallowed for offside.
But Paul Scholes missed the opening penalty in the shoot-out, the only player to do so.United carved out the first decent opportunity when Ronaldo darted 60 yards downfield, left Lauren for dead near the Arsenal box before cutting a cross from the byline onto Paul Scholes' head. However the former England man could not keep his effort on target.
There was talk Roy Carroll might lose his place in the build-up to the game. He did not but Ferguson must have wondered whether he had made the right choice when the Ulsterman came darting out to reach Senderos' long ball but was beaten to it by Jose Antonio Reyes.
Fortunately for the United keeper, Reyes did not have enough support to take maximum advantage of the error and though a rare Keane mistake gifted Arsenal possession 20 yards out, Vieira ended up blazing wildly over.
Scholes just failed to find the perfect finish to an excellent piece of trickery that took him past Cesc Fabregas when his intended pass to van Nistelrooy ran through to Lehmann.
The holders managed to scramble the ball away from danger when Reyes back-heeled Lauren's low cross into the six-yard area before Ronaldo caused more trouble for the Arsenal defence, which was forced to concede another corner.
This time, United were more of a threat, Fletcher eventually squaring to Rooney, whose thunderous effort Lehmann managed to keep out with his foot, only for Ferdinand to tap home the rebound.
For one brief moment, the Red Devils' record signing thought he had scored his first goal for the club, only to see an offside flag rightly raised to cancel it out.
It was the prelude for a burst of Rooney magic. First the teenager saw his first-time effort turned over by Lehmann after Van Nistelrooy had cut an intelligent pass back from the by-line.
Then, the teenager had a fierce shot blocked and, when Scholes expertly picked him out with the corner, he connected brilliantly with a 20-yard volley, only for it to flash wide.
Ronaldo was causing Lauren a mountain of problems but could not quite find the final ball to get United's noses in front in a pulsating contest, devoid of the anticipated rough stuff, which they were just about edging.
Lehmann dealt comfortably enough with Van Nistelrooy's shot on the turn, then Rooney beat three Arsenal defenders on a run that ended with a foul by Senderos on the edge of the box. The England man took the free-kick himself, but curled it harmlessly wide.
An intricate early Gunners passing move came to a disappointing end as the second half got underway, Pires playing a tame pass straight to Brown.
Pires was trying to get much more involved and a dart through midfield ended with the Frenchman playing a neat pass to Bergkamp, but his first touch was too strong.
Scholes seemed to get in Rooney's way as the teenager attempted to unload his first shot of the second period but he still managed to get an effort in that Senderos needed to block.
Van Nistelrooy then laid a brilliant pass into Scholes' path on the edge of the area, only for the bounce to beat the midfielder.
Keane had more luck when van Nistelrooy held the ball up then flicked a pass towards the goal line. The Irishman cut a pass back to the near post, where Toure just managed to beat Rooney to the ball.
Ronaldo fired an ambitious effort wide as United continued to press, but, worryingly for Ferguson, the opening goal would not come.
Lauren received a lengthy lecture for a wild lunge on Ronaldo, not long after the pair had clashed at the other end of the field.
Van Nistelrooy's overhead kick sailed over after Ronaldo and Rooney had combined to create a half chance for the prolific Dutchman, then Silvestre tidied up at the other end as Bergkamp and Reyes threatened.
Booked
Just past the hour mark Lauren was inevitably booked when he chopped Ronaldo down once too often, the Portuguese teenager taking the free-kick himself, which curled over.
Pires volleyed over after Ferdinand had nodded away Bergkamp's free-kick. It could turn out to be the Dutchman's final contribution to the Arsenal cause, as, now out of contract, he was quickly replaced by Freddie Ljungberg.
Van Nistelrooy failed to make firm contact with a Ronaldo near post cross, then Rooney completed deceived Lehmann with a shot from an acute angle which crashed back off the post.
Lehmann flung a hand out to ensure Ronaldo's cross did not reach van Nistelrooy, then the Arsenal keeper got well behind a Rooney free-kick after Toure had failed Ronaldo.
Ljunberg's presence had sparked Arsenal into life and the Swede managed to squeeze his way to the byline, only to play his cross straight into Keane.
Reyes was booked for a needless foul on Silvestre, then Quinton Fortune replaced O'Shea, who had failed to recover from an earlier knock.
United came within inches of grabbing the goal they so richly deserved when Lehmann failed to come for a corner and as it bounced up at the far post, van Nistelrooy met it with a firm header. It looked a certain goal, but somehow, Ljungberg's instinctive attempt to meet it resulted in him nodding the ball against the underside of his own bar.
Rooney fizzed a shot over in stoppage time as United continued to hold sway, then Vieira brought Ronaldo down to earn another Styles lecture.
Ryan Giggs replaced Fletcher at the start of the extra half hour, although Toure quickly emphasised his extra speed over the Welshman, racing up to snuff out the danger when Scholes lofted a ball beyond the Gunners' defence.
Senderos read Giggs' cross well and intercepted before it could get anywhere near van Nistelrooy, then Silvestre fouled Robin van Persie at the other end, the Dutchman having been introduced for the disappointing Fabregas four minutes from time.
It almost proved to be a pivotal moment too as van Persie struck the free-kick with far more conviction than United had managed with their efforts, bringing a flying save from Carroll, his first of the match.
Cole survived a major handball appeal when a Giggs cross bounced awkwardly up in front of him.
Rooney then got on the end of a Giggs cross but could not control quickly enough and Cole made the block.
Within seconds, Lehmann was producing another superb save to deny Scholes from point-blank range. The German should not have been given a chance though shortly afterwards when Scholes picked van Nistelrooy out but, six yards out and with the goal at his mercy, the Dutchman nodded over.
Edu made his final appearance for Arsenal as Pires was taken off.
United should have scored within 40 seconds of the re-start when Giggs drilled over a low cross that Van Nistelrooy completely missed.
Lehmann then reacted quickly to deny Giggs when a Van Nistelrooy pass threatened to send the Welshman clean through.
Reyes, having already been booked, earned a stern lecture from Styles after taking Silvestre out with a late tackle.
Scholes was booked for a foul on Reyes as the clock ticked down, then Keane cleared under pressure inside his own box as a Van Persie free-kick threatened panic.
The first major flashpoint eventually arrived after 115 minutes when Fortune was clipped by Ljungberg and then followed up with a flying kick at Gilberto, although by now Styles was willing to calm the situation down with a few wise words.
Rooney then fouled Cole in an area of supreme danger for Arsenal. Van Persie's free-kick was a good one, which United scrambled away to Ljungberg but he drove the last chance over.
The last drama in normal play came in the final minute when Reyes blocked Ronaldo off and became only the second player in FA Cup Final history to be sent off.
What did you think of United's performance? Have your say.
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Even though Man Utd lost, I'm so proud of this team. They showed the world what's English football is all about and that Man Utd are more than just class. Congratulations to Arsenal, but Manchester will bounce next season.
Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na
Hey-Hey-Hey
GOOD-BYE !!
Well Done, Salford Bucaneer's!!
Its amazing how lady luck eventually balances things up United were by far the better team and still lost just like Bayern Munich in 99 when they were in the same situation and also lost to United.
United should have walked this game, but with RVN only on the field in name, United essentially played the cup final with ten players. The ten gave all. Rooney and Ronaldo, as so many time this season, were magnificent. But when you are playing with ten men, even when you entirely dominate, it's difficult to win. When Giggs came on Utd were down to nine and defeat was virtually assured. Ferguson's judgement and luck have gone. Let's hope that the new owners realise that shoring up the old guard to placate the perceived wrath of the fans is guaranteed to accelerate the club's deterioration. Fergie, RVN and Giggs were once great. No longer. It's time they were gone and very quickly.
outplayed them for 120 mins , by far the better team but yet again .........it was the story of our season !
Never mind girls - at least you won the Reserve's league. 800 million well spent Mr Glazer.
i was afraid it would come to this with carroll in net. howard is much better on penalties and might have made the difference.
you lot were laughing at us after Fowlers howler ha ha ha what comes round goes round ha ha ha ha ok you were mugged but I can recall Bayern Munich being MUGGED as well in 1999 SO THERE ha ha ha ha and do you know what? YOUR TEAM HAS WON NOTHING ha ha ha ha
RVN appeared effective & match fit for only the first half. After that he looked tired & off pace, yet Fergie kept such blind faith in him for the whole duration of 120mins. Van the man was clearly off form as the match wore on. AC Milan deja vu? Maybe we need Owen after all to do the business when RVN is off form.
(probably saha has to go then)
Some positives are that Ronaldo & Rooney were both Awesome, and the midfield & defense were well organized.
I just cannot understand how anybody can turn their back on the team and playser after seeing such a match. I hope that people will realize that the boycott thing is a no-win campaign that can only destroy the team. And after all, it is performances like the one today that everything is about, not whether Martin Edwards, the Coolmores or the Glazers are making money. Next season cannot come fast enough.
Sack Paul Scholes and Roy Carrol immediately no regret at all. Why did Alex changed Giggs when they were playing well. Giggs is a flopee he cant run or dribble any more he should retire and players like Tim Howard, The Neville brothers, Ricardo must go next season. The tean have enoughyoung telent in the reserved team and should be out playing inthe first team.
What need to look for are goal keeper and a strong midfield player.
Look at Carrol no confident at all and he was resting most of the match and too lazy to even try to save the panelty. Paul Schlose kick was a very stupid mistake and he also give away too many free kick during thematch. He is dead just like Giggs too old and slow pace.
I'm as brassed off as the rest of you after watching United play Arsenal off the park for the best part of two hours and then lose on penalties, although it would have been nice had Roy Carroll at least tried to save one rather than just stood there, hoping one would miss. I particularly feel for Rooney, Ronaldo and Keane who all played their socks off. But haven't United been doing this for most of the season, dominating a game in terms of possession, corners and shots on goal, but not converting their chances? Arsenal were made to look second rate, but you could see by half time what was coming. The RVN of 12 months ago would have put away at least two of the chances that came his way at Cardiff, but not any more.
Absolutely magnificent performance from United - fantastic. I don't give a stuff about the lottery of penalties. Today, as I have been so many times in the past, I am proud to be a United supporter. Sometimes you don't get what you deserve, and today was one of those days. It took me back to Barca v Steau Bucherset euro final years ago, when Steau defended for pens from the first minute and won. I don't think the Arse did that, it was just that we battered them without getting any luck. I can't wait for next season now!!!! If we do that to supposedly the second best team in England, we are not far off a return to greatness
Sigh. I'd thought I'd log on here and give my view as some sort of therapy. Firstly a cracking match and credit to a Final. We really played the Arse off the park at times and deserved to win, both at 90 minutes and 120 minutes. Carroll did well to save the free kick. I was really pleased with the team's defence, from Ruud backwards but especially Fletcher et al covering that gap on our right which Arsenal get some much joy though usually, plus the way we always calmly passed our way out of our own box. Very disciplined. I thought Wes did some good overlapping and attacking down the right. Keano was immense. Ronaldo was fantastic and just kept going past Lauren/Viera time after time. He actually has a left foot, Ruud take note. The whole team did well but Rooney was awesome. I guess the only thing was scoring! The post, the crossbar, blocked on the line, disallowed goal....everything but. The 3 clear chances to Ruud being the header over, 'legs crossed' attempt through his legs and the header onto Ljungberg onto crossbar was the crux of it I think.
I'd like to say I think Sir Alex did well in team and tactics so we nullified Arsenal but still could attack with invention and variation. Some of Silvestre's long balls to Rooney to skin Cole again were amazing, so credit to him. A part of me is hoping this whole thing has some higher divine intention from Eric, like now the young 'uns have felt this, go practise some pure clinical finishing! I hope so. Just one of those days? I think so, as last time we played like this against the Arse we scored four. We were better today, we are better and I am happy with this team when it plays this way, like it can. Bugger.
I'm absolutely gutted, we were all over them we took the pi**. They were very lucky to survive there was also some bad finishing. I was proud of the way we played we didn't have to kick holes out of them, we played them off the park. They may have the cup but the players must take a lot of pride and belief out of that game. The press say we are on the decline but if that was a team on the slide I'll show my arse on Market Street. We all know there are areas that need strengthening, but for me there is more positives than negatives.
united trashed arsenal ,out played them, roony and ronaldo did all the work but if you cant put the ball in the net you may as well go home
i feel sick the BEST TEAM LOST the two rooney and ronaldo played their hearts out as thee old saying goes wait till next year good showing united.
A fitting finale to our disappointing season and again poor finishing let us down. But our overall play was terrific and we really outplayed the Gooners for much of the game, which fills me with confidence ahead of next season. Maybe Fergie can get the tactics right after all and in Rooney and Ronaldo we have some world class talent. Fletcher is coming along nicely and maybe Rossi, Jones, Pique and Spector can challange next season. But we do need a GK and CM and maybe a left winger. And if we get a good start Chelsea won't have it as easy next season.
i feel pig sick, after we played so well. typical of this season for us not to get anything. roll on next season.
i feel that the best side lost especially after having more shots and possesion, but every player played extremely great and can hold there head up high except the goal keeper we may have had half a chance if howard came on, but i hope that he does`nt re-sign carrol he is just totally crap we need new players for next season.someone who can hit the target most of these could`nt hit a barn door with a shot gun at 4 ft so please malcolm lets have a clear out and buy some talent please
could i be the first to wish malcolm glazer the very best taking over this club. he must be brave man - shoddy performance, shoddy players shoddy managers
unlucky man united - did well to lose today- fear not though uncle malc willput us back where we belong
fergie out, team out, board out - hand on that one is in the bag
humiliating the pits what else can i say? same problem today as we have had all season - ferguson
fergie out