Feb 16
FA Cup Preview: Man Utd v Arsenal
Today is a big game in terms of the rivalry the two sides have had for the good part of the last decade, but surprisingly, and thankfully, there isn’t the over the board hype surrounding the fixture as has normally been the case in United-Arsenal fixtures. Maybe it’s because it’s the BBC that is showing the game and not Sky. Or maybe it’s the FA Cup itself, which has dwindled in importance and relevance for many Premiership clubs over the years. Who knows!
The managers have also decided to be a little low key in the build up to the game. Arsene Wenger has good reasons as well to be cautious about the fixture as he’s got a host of injuries to deal with. However, I think as long as they have a midfield containing Fabregas, Flamini and Hleb, and a strike force that has Adebayor, they are always going to be a threat. I personally don’t rate Adebayor as much as I would rate van Persie — who, by the way, is an outstanding player — but his aerial presence presents an awkward proposition for our defence. Eduardo seems to have a clinical efficiency about him that might again help their cause, but it is the centre of the park that would decide the game.
And for once, SAF has to get it right as far as midfield combinations go.
We don’t have any major injury concerns. Yes, there is talk of Saha making a return, but we all know that any playing time he would give us could only be termed a bonus. Rooney and Evra return from suspension, which is a good thing to hear. Rooney has been under a lot of heat lately, over his ‘poor form’. While it is reasonable for fans to worry about his lack of goals lately, I think some of the criticism he’s been getting is either unfair or downright ridiculous.
Crucially we have a game in midweek against Lyon, while the Gooners play Milan, so there has also been talk of managers fiddling around a bit with their line-ups.
I have mixed feelings about today’s fixture. On one hand, a victory could be good as we can get the psychological edge and head over to the next round with renewed confidence at the same time, however, ending up playing more games. On the other hand, a defeat would relieve us from the FA Cup and let us concentrate on the League while leaving the Gunners to compete in the cup. Either way the last thing I, and I am sure many Gunners, would want is a draw and a replay.
While United-Arsenal fixtures usually throw up good contests, I have a feeling that today one would have to be prepared for a session of attritional football.
Prediction: 2-1 to United
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- Man Utd v Stoke: Preview
- GOAL VIDEOS: Manchester United v Arsenal
- Man Utd v Everton: Preview
- Man Utd v Spurs match thread
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (541)
RedDevilEddy (459)
Stephen (454)
Craig Mc (344)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
really excited and looking forward for the clash, fixtures cant get any bigger than this, really wating to see who fergy plays as he has stated that he also has his eyes set on the lyon game, am still an optimistic fan and am sure the derby game will be put behind and that man utd will go for a win..my prediction,,man utd 2 arsenal 0,,its tym for them to payback the 05 final game which they undeservedely won,
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i have 1 question are eboue and toure going to play???
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Todays game should be amazing. I’m not sure if anyone mentioned this but last week at Old Trafford all I could hear for the most part of the game was City fans, I HOPE TO GOD WE OUT-SING THE GOONERS!
Personally I think we’ll go with more or less the same team as we played at the Emirates and I hope we’re fired up
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Who knows Olliey! They are tired after being in the ACN, and Arse Wenger will want to rest some oBrown?f his stars. I think Fergie will rest some players too, but I dont hope it is Rooney, Ronaldo, Tevez, Anderson or any of our defenders. I hope he will use Nani, Anderson,Carrick and Ronaldo as our midfield. I think it will be a great attacking game, since none of the sides wants a replay! Since Arsenal will field an inexperienced team, I think we will win. Depends on our team as well, but we have a better, deeper squad, so we should field a nearly first 11. VDS, Wes, Rio, Vida, Evra, Nani, Carrick, Anderson, Ronaldo, Tevez, Rooney. That is the team we should field today! 3-0 to United. Rooney and Ronaldo to score… And I just have a feling that we will have an unexpected scorer today, maybe Anderson, Evra or possibly Brown?
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im my eyes it’s simple hargo and andy in the centre, ronny and giggs on the wings and rooney n tevez upfront its a toss up between welbeck and saha on the bench but it will probably saha on the bench.
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Since Fergie thinks about the Lyon tie, I think Andy and Carrick will be the CM pair with Nani filling in for Giggs. I think Fergie will rest Scholes, Giggs and Owen for wednesday.
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owen andy giggs ronny rooney tevez that is what it SHOULD be
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United fans are so arrogant arsenal to win 2-1
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oliey pliz, no more giggz..better nani in that position, andy and hargo should start, hargo to stiffle out fabregas and andy to supply our attackers with the ball…its good having evra back, i think the lad should get his payrise
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ooooh! how can i forget to mention that rooney is also back.
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Scholes and Giggs I think will be rested along with Tevez….as they are the three whose fitness is poorest. Perhaps Hargreaves as well.
I think Ferguson might stick Saha up front with Rooney. Play Nani, Anderson, Carrick, Giggs and a standard back 4.
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listan to this arrogant quack. Can someone please explain to me how its only the top 5 who are battaling for europe and the rest are fighting a relegation battle? last time i checked theres about 7 clubs batttaling for 4th spot. thats 12 clubs right there battaling for a place in europe.
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Hmmmm I agree with the writer, as an Arsenal fan I’m delighted that we are top of the table and for the first time this season think we could win the title, which is better than I thought at the start. Whilst I want us to win the game I also realise from past seasons that the more comps you are in the more it affects your overall form. Don’t feel as fired up about this as the the game against you at the Emirates and have to say I won’t be as gutted if we lose(unless it in a repeat of the Spurs thrashing a couple of weeks ago)
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I dont think that dickhead knows anything about the Premier League.
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If you think hes an arrogant dickhead, listen to this guy: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article809275.ece
BTW, who celebrated like maniacs when they got a draw aginst us?
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6 players is a bit much,maybe 6 players in a squad of 17.But 6 players cant start(although Id like too see what would happen to arsenal…walcott? ha ha ha.And what the fuck is he sayin?that every team should fight for the title?spain have only 2 teams,france have 1!Italy have 2 or 3.holland have 2.the scottish league is full of scottish players but only 2 teams can win it.It would make football full to have all these rules.Rooney,carrick,ferdinand,hargo,welbeck…the rest are old or leaving.
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Sorry RR, I didnt get how to post the link any other way..
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oh yes i already read that, pathetic.
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Don’t know what Gallas is going on about there. We celebrated because we were so relieved not to lose, it was a big draw to get, it’s not like beating you is unheard of for us we beat you home and away last year. What was interesting was that you paid us a lot of respect, last years games were very open games of football, whilst the one this season reverted to a more cagey type of game that we were seeing a few years back. Today’s result? I think United will win and Rooney will score
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Today we have to win.If we dont itl be sad,and if we lose,sheer horror.We need a big game from ronaldo.Everytime we play arsenal,clichy seems to have him in his pocket so I hope he doesnt play.Rooney loves this game.He was made for this game.Today I have a feeling he will put on a performance.The defence needs to stay compact and watch the runs.I hope hargo and andy start.I like runners in midfield because this arsenal team can move the ball around.And fuck gallas!
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vds
brown,vidic,rio,evra,
ronaldo,andy,hargo,nani
rooney/tevez
on my way to watch the match, enjoy
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i have 3 wishes for this game
1.anderson and hargo start
2.ronaldo plays at his best, enough of playing shit against decent opposition
3.we win and out “flair” le arse
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it seems we have an ace in the hole in capturing that congo starlet. Man Utd offer Mpoklu a trial he’ll join especially if bonsingwa does join us in the summer which is likely.
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the team=
vds
simpson/rio/vidic/evra
ronaldo/carrick/andy/nani
tevez/rooney
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First of all Ronaldo doesn’t play that badly against big teams it’s just he doesn’t follow the ball around the pitch he just stays on the right wing and cuts inside or crosses the ball. This prevents him getting on the ball as much as we are used to and thus being ‘quiet’ compared to all the other games that we see. Apparently he had a bad game the last time against Arsenal but he set up one goal and scored one.
secondly, how can Blatter say that about the PL when in Spain nobody ever wins the title except Madrid and Barca(and maybe Valencia) in Italy it’s Inter Milan,Juve or AC (in the past). So how come he’s not going after these leagues?
Today I pedict a 1-0 win or a 1-1 draw with Rooney scoring for United.
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This is the 1st of a set of really big games. Lose today and have a bad game on Wednesday and our season could well be over. I know thats a bit doom and gloom, but it is a possibility. Not to mention the game away to Newcastle, not always a happy hunting ground for us, plus they will have had 2 full weeks to prepare for it. Whilst the FA Cup can be viewed as a load of extra games not needed, losing to a (probably understrength) Arsenal side would be very bad for our already dwindling confidence and would give them a boost when they return for the league game in April. So, hopefully a good game, a win and no injuries. The next 3 games could determine or end our season. Arsenal did it last year when they went out of everything in just over a week. God I hope that doesnt happen to us.
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I don’t agree with the “rest” we might get if we lose today.. The equation is simple for me and SAF and the players.. You can’t win the treble if you’re out of the FA Cup..
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Team News:
GK: VDS
RB: Brown
CB: Ferdinand
CB: Vidic
LB: Evra
RM: Nani
Cm: Fletcher
CM: Carrick
CM: Anderson
LM: Park
CF: Rooney
Subs: PIG, Scholes, Saha, O’Shea, Tevez
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And the Arse for good measure:
GK: Lehamn
RB: Hoyte
CB: Toure
CB: Gallas
LB: Traore
RM: Eboue
CM: Fabregas
CM: Gilberto
LM: Hleb
CF: Eduardo
CF: Bendtner
Subs: Fabianski, Senderos, Clichy, Flamini, Adebayor
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I think Anderson will play up front with Rooney instead of a 5-man midfield. But, WHERE IS RONALDO??
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Fletcher…park….ooohhhhhhh shit…what the fuck is he doing?I hope he knows what hes doing.
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Obviously the Lyon game is of more importance.
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And Liverpool are out! Fan-Fucking-Tastic!!!!!
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No sign of Ronaldo in yesterdays training pics and the Portuguese press was running the story that he was injured and would miss the game this morning.
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Thats bye bye to ben…ohhh nooooo!
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Just got the chills watching that Barnsley win. Simply amazing.
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If that doesn’t get us going (and Rooney for that matter) I don’t know what will! Oh, and I haven’t said this much, but Anderson looks great! Honestly, with the confidence Carrick is playing with now, Carrick and Anderson are our best midfield pair. Now Fletch made it 2-0!
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SAF knows!!!!!!
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I don’t know why we didn’t and don’t play this inspired all the time, especially when we are top of the table. When we play like this, no one can beat us!
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fletch is being immense today, good to see
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This is too good to be true.
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I eat my fucking words!fletcher has been brilliant.mom so far!even parks played well.
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what the hell !!! 3 -0 nani. were destroying them
SHIT
go man utd
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i smell rump!
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with ronny coming in for park, this should be are starting line-up always!!
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I smell Roma x2!! What a game! Anderson is MOM, closely followed by…wait for it…FLETCHER! Let win with many,many,many more goals!
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If fletcher could play like this everyweek I would love the lad!What the fuck was gallas saying about us thinking we were too good.Yea gallas!thats right we are too good.What has van de saar done?Old trafford is like an orchestra today!Truly a theater of dreams
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hey guys, you know what would make this season absolutly perfect? thte scouse getting knocked out the champions league leaving them with nothing.
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who knew fletch had this in him?
we are playing like champions champions ole ole ole
anderson is amazing carick is killing it also nani wow im going nuts.
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RED CARD EBOUE LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
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