Manchester United and Arsenal face one another in the standout tie of round 6, the winners will likely be installed as favourites to win the F.A. Cup.
For Arsenal, the tie, and retention of the trophy is probably slightly more important than it is for Louis van Gaal. Having finished outside of the Champions League places last season, the top 4 will be a more urgent priority for the home side.
Given the Gunners’ lamentable collapse against Monaco in the Champions League heaps the pressure more squarely onto the shoulders of Arsene Wenger. The loser will be left with only a top 4 finish to chase and that prospect is likely to excite Arsenal supporters less than it is United’s.
The Gunners have not won at Old Trafford since 2006 and whilst it is one of the hardest grounds in Europe to visit, it’s difficult not to believe that there is some kind of mental impasse for Arsenal’s players in this arena.
I, dear reader, have been at every single one of those matches and, though the law of averages is folly, it really is about time that it changed. The winner of the tie could also lend themselves the upper hand in the jockey for league positions too. A victory would prove to be a huge boon for Arsenal in their chase for silverware and for a top 4 finish. A defeat will likely plunge the fanbase back into a demonstrative meltdown and would leave the manager needing to pick up his players once again. Make no mistake, much rests on this tie.
Vital Quotes:
Arsene Wenger told arsenal.com that he considers this tie as a ‘fantastic opportunity’ for his team. “It`s not just another game because it`s the quarter-final of the FA Cup,” Wenger said. “We fought until now to be in there – now we want to stay in it and go to the semi-final. It`s a fantastic opportunity.
“For years, it was always the game of the season that decided the Premier League. At the moment it`s not the case but it`s still a big game.
“You go there and I don`t expect any weakness from Man United. I know that if we want to qualify, we have to produce a strong performance. They have lost two games in 22 so if you want to beat them, you have to produce a performance.
“We just want to qualify. Let`s not consider Man United. Let`s focus on our performances of the day.
“In the cup, you give it your all. We know that they have a little advantage because they play at Old Trafford where they feel confident. To compensate for that, we have to put more effort in and produce a top-level performance.
‘We go to Manchester United to qualify and to give absolutely everything,” the boss said. “That`s the target of the day – hard work, team effort and to give absolutely everything. Both teams will do that and I believe it could be a very interesting game.
“At the moment we are doing very well away from home. The size of the pitch is exactly the same everywhere, it`s just down to how much we turn up and how much effort we put in to win the game.
“It is a [game with] special intensity because it is between two teams who have a chance to win this competition. Both teams will think, ‘If we get over this hurdle, we have a good opportunity to win the competition’. It is more focused on the FA Cup purely than the Premier League.
‘I still think possession is an important part of the game – you cannot go into a game and say you do not want the ball,” the manager said. “Sometimes you do not have the ball because your opponent is better, sometimes you are leading 1-0 or 2-0 and your team is focused on defending the advantage.
“You have to analyse it. You also have to look at ways of possession – is it in your own half or is it in the opponents half? If it is in your half, it can be a bit illusionary possession.
“But overall I still think it is very important that the sport rewards people and teams who take initiative.”
United boss Louis van Gaal suggests that defeat would represent a big blow for either side in this F.A. Cup quarter-final match up, ”Arsenal and United are now in third and fourth place, so it is a big event with two good teams. I hope we can give a fantastic match for the fans.
‘I think if we beat them it is a big blow for them, but if they beat us it is a big blow for us. It is very important game, not only for the FA Cup but also for the [Premier League] rat race.
‘I want to get always the goals that we have set, and the goals we have set is the top four, and a trophy would be fantastic,’ said Van Gaal.
‘It’s fantastic for the players and the manager but our role in our first year together is to win a place in the Champions League.
‘I think that Arsene Wenger is right – I think that Arsene Wenger is always saying right things – for a club, Champions League is the highest level and that’s why he’s saying that.’
van Gaal went on to praise Arsene Wenger’s contribution to English football, ”In my opinion what he has done is amazing. It can only be in England, I believe, where managers are so long committed with one club.
‘It shows how much he can mean for a club as a manager. I like that – like Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger – I think it’s fantastic that you can do that.’
Manchester United Team News:
Jonny Evans starts a six match suspension for spitting at Newcastle’s Papiss Cisse, so he misses out. Ex Arsenal striker Robin van Persie is also unavailable due to an ankle injury.
Luke Shaw (hamstring) will have a late fitness test.
Manchester United (from); de Gea, Rafael, Shaw, Jones, Rojo, di Maria, Mata, Falcao, Rooney, Januzaj, Smalling, Lindegaard, Carrick, Blind, Young, Herrera, Valencia, Fellaini, McNair, Blackett, Wilson.
Player to watch: Marouane Fellaini
United have a lot of new players, so it is natural that they would take some time to gel. But it isn’t always clear exactly what van Gaal’s blueprint is for United.
In recent weeks he has turned increasingly to the direct charms of Marouane Fellaini. The Belgian is far from subtle, but can be effective.
I would be amazed if he did not start with instructions to upset Arsenal’s centre halves and to try and ruffle Coquelin’s feathers. Fellaini’s shove on Gibbs in the league game in November had a kind of economies of scale effect for United’s goal.
It both forced Gibbs to the ground, from where he diverted the ball into his own net and it injured Wojciech Szczesny, denying him the opportunity to try and save it.
Like I said, Fellaini’s charms are far from subtle, but they are effective and he has certainly unsettled Arsenal before.
Arsenal Team News:
The Gunners give late tests to Wojciech Szczesny (virus), Mathieu Flamini (hamstring) and Nacho Monreal (back).
Mathieu Debuchy (shoulder), Gabriel (hamstring), Jack Wilshere (ankle) and Abou Diaby are all out.
Arsenal (from); Szczesny, Debuchy, Gibbs, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Rosicky, Özil, Giroud, Walcott, Chamberlain, Ramsey, Alexis, Monreal, S.Cazorla, Flamini, Chambers, Welbeck, Martinez, Coquelin, Akpom, Bellerin.
Player to watch: Mesut Özil
Özil is a wonderfully subtle player, whose effect often escapes observation. There was a wonderful example of this disconnect on Wednesday night at Loftus Road.
Mertesacker skewed a clearance and it hung in the sky above Özil inside his own half. He allowed it to bounce and run across his body, ‘WHAT ARE YOU DOING ÖZIL?!’ The man behind me shouted.
The German waited for the Rangers player to approach him, like a matador gripping a red cloth. In two movements, Özil had wriggled away and set Alexis away inside Rangers’ half. He is calm and collected, we as fans are not.
That said, there remains a sense that he can do even more and one is left with the feeling that, whilst he isn’t the sort of player that ‘dominates’ games visibly, a telling contribution in a big match is overdue. The critics, both reasoned and hysterical, will continue to sharpen their knives until it arrives.
Match Facts & Stats
Manchester United have kept a clean sheet in each of their last four FA Cup games against Arsenal.
United have won 11 and lost just one of their last 15 matches against Arsenal in all competitions.
Wayne Rooney has scored more goals against Arsenal than any other player in Premier League history (11) and has found the net in all three of his FA Cup appearances against Arsenal (in the 2005 shootout and in normal play in the last two ties).
Arsenal and United have met twice in the final (the Gunners coming out on top both times) and three times in semi-finals (United progressing each time).
Stats courtesy of opta.
Arsenal have not beaten Manchester United in any competition since May 2011. They have not won at Old Trafford since September 2006.
Danny Welbeck faces his old club.
Ref Watch:
Michael Oliver oversees this one.
Match Prediction:
I fancy that a replay might be needed to separate the sides. I’m going for 1-1, with Giroud and Rooney on the score sheet.
Next Fixtures:
Arsenal play at home to West Ham United at 3pm on Saturday. Manchester United are at home to Spurs at 4pm on Sunday.