Men against boys | How United rated | How Arsenal rated | United marching on Rome | How the action unfolded
Patrick Barclay’s verdict | Matt Dickinson: Ferguson closes on greatness | Cascarino: Arsenal found wanting
Sympathy no consolation for Fletcher | Graphic: Talking tactics | Graphic: Breaking point

Sir Alex Ferguson urged his Manchester United players to make history by retaining the Champions League after booking their place in the final last night courtesy of a 4-1 aggregate win over Arsenal.

An early goal from Park Ji Sung and a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo put them on their way to a 3-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium, the comprehensive nature of the win emphasised by the rows of empty seats visible when Robin van Persie scored Arsenal’s consolation from the penalty spot in the 76th minute after Darren Fletcher had been sent off for a professional foul on Cesc Fàbregas. It is a decision that will rule the United midfield player out of the final in Rome on May 27.

Television replays suggested that Fletcher had won the ball, although he had also tugged back Fàbregas by the arm. Uefa confirmed that no appeal is possible against the decision by Roberto Rosetti, the Italian referee, as they can be made only on grounds of mistaken identity. Paul Scholes - who missed the 1999 final because of suspension - and Gary Neville went to the dressing-room to console him.

Ferguson described Fletcher’s absence as a personal tragedy, though it was put into perspective when it emerged that two of the United manager’s grandchildren had been seriously injured in a car crash yesterday.

Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra, who went into the match one booking away from missing the final because of a ban, emerged unscathed and can line up against Chelsea or Barcelona, who meet this evening.

Ferguson has frequently stated that his failure to bring more European Cups to Old Trafford is his biggest disappointment in football, his two triumphs coming nine years apart, but he has the opportunity to make a significant piece of history.

The last club to lift the trophy in successive years were AC Milan in 1989 and 1990. A large party from Milan was at the Emirates last night, David Beckham and Mathieu Flamini experiencing conflicting emotions at the fate of their former clubs.

“From the club’s point of view we should have won this cup more times and it’s another opportunity for us,” Ferguson said. “We have the quality, energy and ambition to do it again and it’s a hungry team. When the chips are down they don’t let me down. We’re more than capable.”

Ferguson reserved special praise for Ronaldo, who effectively killed off the tie by beating Manuel Almunia with a 41-yard free kick in the eleventh minute before scoring a magnificent counter-attacking goal midway through the second half. “They could not handle him,” Ferguson said. “The midfield was working its socks off, but we needed someone to give them real problems and Ronaldo in that form, he’s a fantastic player.”

Evra delivered a damning assessment of Arsène Wenger’s team. “It was 11 men against 11 boys,” the defender said. “They’re just too young to compete. Chelsea and Barcelona are on another level compared to Arsenal. The difference wasn’t just experience, it was quality, too. It’s not just about playing pretty. We’re pretty too, but we also score goals and we also defend well.”

Ferguson expressed sympathy for Wenger, who described the defeat as the biggest disappointment of his career. “The fans were up for a big night and to disappoint people, it hurts really,” the Arsenal manager said. “The game was over before it started and that’s the most difficult thing to swallow. We can only look at ourselves. It’s very disappointing to fight such a long way and then to give the game away like we did tonight.”