Welbeck starts ahead of Giroud for Arsenal against Manchester United

And Wenger's opposite number Louis van Gaal has picked Wayne Rooney to play up front, with Radamel Falcao starting on the bench.

Manchester United: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Rojo, Shaw, Blind, Herrera, Di Maria, Fellaini, Young, Rooney. Subs: Valdes, Rafael, Jones, Carrick, Januzaj, Mata, Falcao.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Alexis, Welbeck. Subs: Martinez, Gibbs, Chambers, Ramsey, Giroud, Walcott, Akpom.

Louis van Gaal on Johnny Evans allegedly spitting: "He wasn't aware that he was spitting and when he was spitting on the ground maybe that is a natural thing from a human being. It was not his intention and I said already I cannot imagine that Jonny Evans could do that and he has said that also. I believe him so for me the matter has been done."

LVG on Wenger: "In my opinion what he has done is amazing. It can only be in England, I believe, where managers are so long committed with one club. It shows how much he can mean for a club as a manager. I like that - like Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger - I think it's fantastic that you can do that. Arsenal and United are now in third and fourth place, so it is a big event with two good teams. I hope we can give a fantastic match for the fans. I think if we beat them it is a big blow for them, but if they beat us it is a big blow for us. It is very important game, not only for the FA Cup but also for the (Premier League) rat race."

Arsene Wenger on Danny Welbeck: "He's (Welbeck) very important and has played many, many games since the start of the season. I think he's played in nearly every single game. His position is one of the three up front -- central, left or right. He can play anywhere. He's one of the players who has played the most games for us, but not in the last couple of games. You have moments in the season where some players play a bit less."

Wayne Rooney (via United's official website): "We haven't been to a final for a few years, we want to try to win that game and we are looking forward to that. Of course, I think it is a massive trophy. It is a trophy that, growing up as a youngster, I used to love watching and I was fortunate enough to see Everton lift the FA Cup in 1995 when I was nine years old. It is something which I would love to do and, hopefully, it can be this year."

Wayne Rooney has scored seven goals in his last eight FA Cup matches.

Arsenal and Manchester United have participated in a joint-high 18 and won a joint-high 11 FA Cup finals each.

Olivier Giroud has scored seven and assisted four goals in his 11 FA Cup appearances.

Manchester United have kept a clean sheet in each of their last four FA Cup games against Arsenal.

Arsenal are through to the FA Cup Quarter finals for the 11th time under Arsene Wenger. They have progressed to the Semi Final in nine of the previous 10. The only time they were eliminated was in 2011 against Manchester United.

The Gunners and the Red Devils have been drawn together 13 times in the FA Cup with Arsenal winning six (one on a penalty shoot out) and Man Utd seven.

Arsenal and Manchester United have met twice in the final (the Gunners coming out on top both times) and three times in semi finals (United progressing each time).

Manchester United have won 11 and lost just one of their last 15 matches against Arsenal in all competitions.

Wayne Rooney has scored more goals against Arsenal than any other player in Premier League history (11) and has found the net in all three of his FA Cup appearances against Arsenal (in the 2005 shoot out and in normal play in the last two ties).

The only two survivors from the 2005 FA Cup final are Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie who was in the Arsenal team.

There have been red cards in four of the last seven FA Cup meetings between Arsenal and Man Utd.

Robin van Persie has scored in five of the last seven meetings between Arsenal and Manchester United.

Manchester United have won nine and lost none of the last 10 matches against Arsenal at Old Trafford.

Manchester United had their first shot on target in their 2-1 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates in the 85th minute earlier in the season in the Premier League and that put them 2-0 up.

Juan Mata has scored four goals and assisted two more in five starts in all competitions against Arsenal.

Arsenal v Manchester United conjures up many famous moments, such as the last ever semi-final replay in 1999 decided by Ryan Giggs’ wonder goal, the 2005 final, the first time a final was decided on a penalty shoot out and the “five minute final” where Arsenal had been pegged back from 2-0 up to 2-2 and then saw Alan Sunderland score a last minute winner.

United 6-4, Draw 12-5, Arsenal 2-1