UNDER any other circumstances, the more cynically minded individual would have thought that the FA Cup semi-final draw yesterday was fixed to keep apart Manchester United and Arsenal, the biggest clubs remaining in the competition. Because it was Sir Trevor Brooking who was overseeing the event, however, even the cynics would concede that fairness prevailed.

Both ties will be played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on April 16 and 17, weekend appointments that may yet contrive to heighten intrigue at the top of the Barclays Premiership. United should have kicked off against Chelsea at Old Trafford at noon on Saturday, April 16, a fixture that could have galvanised the home team’s hopes of catching their opponents or virtually sending the title down the Kings Road had the West London club not secured it by then.

The likelihood now is that the match between the two juggernauts will be rescheduled as a midweek contest. Should Chelsea progress through to the semi-finals of the European Cup, the match seems certain to go ahead during the week before the final round of Premiership matches on May 14. While the prospect of another Liverpool versus Arsenal denouement of 1989 vintage is remote, pride and a runners-up position above Arsenal will be sufficient motivation for United.

Further interest in jostling for league positions may be promoted if United and Arsenal collide in the final, potentially opening Uefa Cup entry to the team finishing seventh in the Premiership. Alan Curbishley, the Charlton Athletic manager, is among those vying for that place who will be observing the semi-finals keenly. “The way the draw has gone, there is a bigger incentive now,” he said.

For those who like confrontation in their lives, among whose number Sir Alex Ferguson most probably could be included, the absence of the United manager sparring verbally with Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, in the semi-finals will be a disappointment.

Romantics, too, will be encouraged by Alan Shearer’s continued participation, although the odds against a final involving Newcastle and Blackburn Rovers, his and his manager’s former club, are lengthy at best.

The glitter of silverware has not been spotted at St James’ Park since 1969, when Newcastle celebrated victory in the Inter Cities Fairs Cup and Shearer, the captain, is anxious to win a significant trophy in his retirement season. “We are in the semi-final and we deserve to be there,” Shearer, 34, said. “This is where the season starts to get interesting. We have got one foot in the quarter-finals of the Uefa Cup (they hold a 3-1 lead going into the second leg with Olympiakos tomorrow night) and now everyone has got to stand up and be counted.” Freddy Shepherd, the Newcastle chairman, was bullish about his club’s prospects.

“It’s not the draw that we wanted, but it won’t have been the draw that Manches- ter United wanted, either,” Shepherd said. “There’s no reason why we can’t beat them. We won’t be frightened. We’ve done well to beat Chelsea and Tottenham in the last two rounds, so why can’t we beat Manchester United?” The meeting of the two Uniteds is certainly the glamour tie of the two. Blackburn Rovers edged past Leicester City, of the Coca-Cola Championship, in the previous round but the chances of extending their interest in the competition are minimal as Arsenal strive to salvage a season that has spiralled downwards since the turn of the year.

Even so, Mark Bowen, assistant to Mark Hughes at Ewood Park, remains optimistic as the Lancashire team prepare to host Arsenal in the league this weekend. “We’re delighted to be in the semi-final with three of the biggest clubs in Europe,” he said. “It’s going to be a special occasion for everybody.”

NEWCASTLE'S NEAR MISSES

1999 FA Cup Final: Manchester United 2 Newcastle United 0: Disappointment was in store for Ruud Gullit’s side when they failed to make amends for their poor display the previous year.
1998 FA Cup Final: Arsenal 2 Newcastle United 0: Newcastle’s first FA Cup Final for 24 years was a let-down as Arsenal dominated throughout.
1995-96: Newcastle finish as Premiership runners-up: Kevin Keegan would have loved it, really loved it if Newcastle had not squandered a 12-point lead to finish four points behind Manchester United.
STEPHANIE LEE

HOW THEY LINE UP

Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers
Newcastle United v Manchester United

• Ties to be played Saturday April 16 and Sunday April 17 at the Millennium Stadium