Manchester United vs Arsenal
Both sides will be going into this game hurting. Manchester United coming off the back of a 3-1 loss to Liverpool, in which Liverpool made Manchester United look average at best, and an Arsenal side who were the victims of one of the most one sided games in recent memory, losing 3-1 to Barcelona at the Nou Camp.
Manchester United have had a mixed bag in terms of who they’ve drawn in the FA Cup this year, first of all they faced Roy Hodgson’s Liverpool in the third round, they managed to scrape through one nil. In the fourth round they had a tricky trip to St. Marys where they won 2-1 in a tough encounter, and in the last round high flying Crawley Town came to Old Trafford in what nearly ended embarrassingly for the team that are top of the Premier League, United coming out one nil victors in the end, Wes Brown the unlikely hero.
Manchester United have the advantage of playing at Old Trafford in this tie, a ground they’ve been in phenomenal form in so far this year. In the league they have played 14 at home, won 13 and drawn 1. The worrying thing for Sir Alex though is the injuries that have started to pile up; Nani, Park, Anderson and Antonio Valencia are all unavailable, with Rio Ferdinand is in a race against time to be fit.
Manchester United will be confident going into the game, they’ve not been at their best for the majority of the season and have still managed to grind out results, and they also have a pretty good record against Arsenal in the FA Cup, the last time the two teams met in 2008 United won 4-0. One thing for sure is that one of Rooney or Berbatov will have to turn up and play to the standard everyone knows they can. With Nani now out injured, the burden will be on the front two to deliver that creative spark, and cause havoc in an unstable Arsenal defence.
Arsenal have had a fairly easy run in up to this point, although they have been ‘very Arsenal about it’ and made it very difficult for themselves. In the third round they faced Leeds, who very nearly beat Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium; they would have done if it wasn’t for a last minute penalty from captain Cesc Fabregas. This resulted in a replay at Elland Road which Arsenal won comfortably by three goals to one. Next up was Huddersfield Town at the Emirates in which Fabregas again scored a late penalty, this time to put Arsenal through to the next stage. In the fifth round they came up against Leyton Orient, Orient managed to force a replay, a replay which Arsenal managed to win pretty comfortably by five goals to nil.
Arsenal will be hoping that they can transfer their away form in the league into the FA Cup, Arsenal have been quite impressive away from home this season, racking up 7 wins in 13 away games, more than any other Premier League club. But like Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger has his own set of injury problems. Arsenals saviour from the third and fourth round, Cesc Fabregas, is out of the tie with an injury, and first choice goalkeeper Wosjiech Szczesny dislocated his finger and is tipped to be out for six weeks.
Due to Arsenals injuries, a lot of pressure will no doubt be forced onto young Jack Wilshere’s shoulders once again, something that’s happened all too often this season, credit to the lad who has taken it all in his stride. The main talking point is who Arsene Wenger will pick to fill the gap left by Fabregas; Nasri or Rosicky will be the likely replacements. It’s still touch and go as to whether Song will make it, so once again its likely Wenger will have to choose between Diaby or Denilson to take his place.
The main talking point in regards to selection is whether Robin Van Persie will be fit to play. Van Persie gives Arsenal a different dimension to his play and if he hits form, there’s not many in the world that can stop him. I doubt many would disagree that if Van Persie hits form in this game, Arsenal could very well be on their way to the semi finals of the FA Cup.
Key Players:
Manchester United: Wayne Rooney
Arsenal: Robin Van Persie
My Prediction: Manchester United 1 Arsenal 1
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