Manchester United recovered from going a goal down against Preston North End to secure a 3-1 win in this evening's FA Cup fifth-round clash at Deepdale, earning themselves a quarter-final clash against Arsenal in the process.
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The Red Devils dominated possession in the early stages, winning a corner as early as the second minute, but Wayne Rooney's delivery was cleared.
Preston, however, were able to carve out a chance on goal nine minutes in when Joe Garner's long-range effort from 25 yards was caught by David de Gea.
Despite the League One side increasing in confidence as the game went on, they gave away a free kick just outside the box just before the quarter-hour mark.
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Angel di Maria stepped up and curled a dangerous shot over the Preston wall, but despite goalkeeper Thorsten Stuckmann being left stranded, the ball floated wide.
Garner was involved once again in the 27th minute when Paul Gallagher's free kick from the right was nodded towards goal by the 26-year-old striker, but the connection wasn't clean and the ball soared over.
Little happened during the remainder of the first half, but just two minutes after the restart, Garner threaded a pass through to Scott Laird, whose snap shot deflected off Antonio Valencia's boot and into the United net.
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It could have been two for the Lilywhites moments later, as a deep free kick was met by Tom Clarke on the volley, but Ander Herrera did just enough to put 27-year-old off.
With 25 minutes left to play and the United fans beginning to fear the worst, Herrera was then able to draw his side level when he latched on to substitute Ashley Young's ball before slotting past Stuckmann.
United then edged themselves in front just six minutes later when a Valencia cross was emphatically punted home by Marouane Fellaini.
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Any chances of a North End comeback were extinguished in the latter stages of the match when Stuckmann brought down Rooney in the box to gift United a penalty.
The England man stepped up and duly sent his spot kick into the corner to secure a high-profile cup tie at Old Trafford against the Gunners.
Giuseppe Labellarte
