Lupoli handed striking role for Gunners

Sheffield United v Arsenal

Arturo Lupoli was handed the task of firing under-strength Arsenal into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

Gunners manager Arsene Wenger went into his side’s fifth-round replay at Bramall Lane without the injured Thierry Henry, Sol Campbell and Robert Pires plus the suspended trio Dennis Bergkamp, Jose Antonio Reyes and Robin van Persie.

Lupoli is 17 and has played three games this season – all in the Carling Cup.

His last appearance came on December 1, and tonight he joined makeshift forward Freddie Ljungberg in attack.

The Blades had Paddy Kenny in goal after passing a late fitness test on a hip injury, while Paul Thirlwell returned after serving a one-match ban.

Andy Liddell, Derek Geary and Nick Montgomery were also in the starting line-up after being rested for Saturday’s 1-0 home win over Rotherham.

Sheff Utd: Kenny, Geary, Morgan, Bromby, Harley, Liddell, Montgomery, Jagielka, Thirlwell, Tonge, Gray.

Subs: Quinn, Francis, Kabba, Shaw, Haystead.

Arsenal: Almunia, Lauren, Cygan, Senderos, Cole, Fabregas, Vieira, Flamini, Clichy, Lupoli, Ljungberg.

Subs: Eboue, Toure, Aliadiere, Owusu-Abeyie, Taylor.

Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire)