Arsenal will face archrival Manchester United in the FA Cup semifinals, with a non-top flight team guaranteed a place in the final for the first time since 1992.
Monday's draw set up what most fans would have considered the ideal final -- the Gunners, seeking their third FA Cup title in a row, against 10-time winner United.
Instead, the Premier League giants will meet in the semis at Villa Park in Birmingham on April 3 or 4. The winner will face first division sides Sunderland or Millwall or second division Tranmere in the final.
"I thought we'd get Arsenal," United manager Alex Ferguson said. "It doesn't matter when you get them. Their form has been better than Manchester United's this season. But Villa Park is a good venue for us."
Sunderland was drawn against either Millwall and Tranmere, who drew 0-0 Sunday in the quarterfinals and will go to a replay on March 16. That semifinal will be played at Old Trafford.
It's been 12 years since the FA Cup had a finalist from outside the top division -- that was also Sunderland, which lost in the 1992 final to Liverpool. The last team from outside the top flight to win the FA Cup was West Ham in 1980.
"It's a great tie for us," Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy said. "Playing Millwall or Tranmere gives you a far better chance of getting to the final than had it been Manchester United or Arsenal.
"But I approach it with caution. It's easy to say, `Yes, great, we're in the final.' We're not. We've got to beat Millwall or Tranmere -- and don't forget, Millwall have beaten us twice this season.''
Arsenal is trying to become the first club in 118 years to win the cup three straight times. The Gunners, also bidding to reach the final for a record fourth straight year, reached the semifinals for a record 24th time by routing Portsmouth 5-1 on Saturday.
Manchester United, which beat Fulham 2-1 Sunday, hasn't reached the semifinals since 1999 -- the last time it won the trophy.
United and Arsenal met in the FA Cup fifth round last season, with the Gunners' winning 2-0 at Old Trafford on the way to the title.
Arssenal and United last played in a semifinal in 1999, with United beating Arsenal in a replay.
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