For the 2nd year running N&R's team were beaten in the FA Cup final and quite frankly it was as one-sided as last year. Man Utd had 20 shots at goal compared to Arsenal's 5 and they had 11 more corners. However it was the often slated Jens Lehmann who was the hero saving Paul Scholes penalty in the shoot out to give the Gunners the Cup.
United controlled the entire match with Arsenal employing Dennis Bergkamp solely up front and their normal perfect passing game was non-existent.
Rio Ferdinand had the ball in the net after 21 minutes after Jens Lehmann blocked Rooney's drive with his legs, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Rooney then brought a fine save from Lehmann when he turned a stinging drive over the top after good work by Van Nistelrooy.
United dominated the early stages of the second half, with only a desperate tackle from Kolo Toure stopping Rooney before Ronaldo fired narrowly off target from 20 yards.
Wenger made a change after 64 minutes, replacing Bergkamp with Ljungberg.
Rooney came closest to breaking the deadlock with an audacious attempt to beat Lehmann at his near post, but the Arsenal keeper recovered and got a slight touch on to the upright. Van Nistelrooy was then inches away from connecting with Ronaldo's cross as United continued to dominate.
Keane had a glorious chance to win the Cup for United with five minutes left when Lehmann misjudged Ronaldo's corner, but Vieira provided a crucial block. Seconds later Ljungberg miraculously cleared Van Nistelrooy's header off the line and up on to the bar as Arsenal hung on desperately.
Giggs came on for Fletcher at the start of the extra time - but it was Arsenal who finally posed their first serious threat seven minutes after the re-start.
Mikael Silvestre was harshly penalised for fouling substitute Robin van Persie, and the Dutch youngster forced a fine diving save out of Carroll from the free-kick.
Lehmann rescued Arsenal again when he blocked Scholes on the the turn, before Van Nistelrooy missed United's best chance, heading wide of an open goal from six yards.
As the game entered the dying seconds, Reyes was sent off for fouling Ronaldo having earlier been booked.
Then it was penalties and it is always sad to see a final decided on them.
Jens Lehmann made the crucial save from Paul Scholes as the destination of the trophy was decided on penalties for the first time in its history in what will be the last final at the Millennium Stadium.
Van Nistelrooy, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rooney and Roy Keane were on the mark for United in the shoot-out, but Arsenal's spot-kicks were flawless.
Lauren, Ljungberg, Robin van Persie and Ashley Cole were on target before captain Vieira stepped forward to score.
Team: Carroll, Brown, Ferdinand, Silvestre, O'Shea (Fortune 77), Fletcher (Giggs 91), Keane, Scholes, Ronaldo, van Nistelrooy, Rooney.
Subs Not Used: Howard, Gary Neville, Smith.
Attendance: 71,876
MoM: Wayne Rooney
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