Verdict: Over three goals
Best Odds: 5/4
Bookmaker: Bet365
In the glamour tie of the fourth-round of the FA Cup, Arsenal will welcome a resurgent Manchester United to the Emirates on Friday night.
Arsenal
Starting with the hosts, although many were worried by Arsenal’s form entering the New Year, Unai Emery’s side will certainly be boosted by their impressive 2-0 win over Chelsea last weekend. Now within three points of climbing back into the Champions League positions, it will be their form in North London most pleasing the former PSG boss. While the Gunners may have failed to win any of their last five top-flight matches on the road, the Reds are currently enjoying a three-match winning run at home. More impressive, aside from their 2-0 loss to Tottenham in the EFL Cup last month, Arsenal have only lost one other game at the Emirates, a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City on the opening weekend. Now scoring nine goal on their three-match winning run in the capital, Emery will be hoping that leading goalscorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will carry on his lethal run of form. The Gabon international has 16 for the season and three in his last three in North London.
Team News
Arsenal will be without defender Hector Bellerin due to a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan won’t feature against his former club Manchester United as he continues his recovery from a fractured metatarsal.
Manchester United
Well, it appears that the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer party is showing no signs of slowing down. Picking up a 2-1 win against Brighton last Saturday, the new boss at Old Trafford has won all seven of his opening games and has made the best start to any new manager in the history of Manchester United. Now within just three points of climbing into the Champions League positions, the Norweigan boss will be most impressed by his sides form on the road. Offering the Reds a newfound attacking identity, United have won their last three matches on the road, including a 1-0 win over Tottenham in their last visit to the capital. While Arsenal might have one striker enjoying a very impressive run of form, the Red Devils have their own man enjoying arguably his best run in a United shirt. Once again finding the net against Brighton last weekend, England international Marcus Rashford has now bagged four goals against the last four top-flight sides he has faced.
Team News
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer say United’s Alexis Sanchez is available after a recent hamstring problem while goalkeeper David de Gea is rested.
Marcos Rojo and Marouane Fellaini remain unavailable because of injury.
Chris Smalling is training after a foot problem, while Luke Shaw has recovered from the illness that caused him to miss last weekend’s win over Brighton.
Key Factors to Consider
- Arsenal have won their only two previous FA Cup matches at home to Manchester United.
- However, the Gunners have only won one of the last six meetings in all competitions (D2, L3).
- There has been a red card in five of the past eight FA Cup ties between the sides.
- Arsenal have won 12 of their last 13 FA Cup matches against fellow Premier League sides.
- United have won all seven matches under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, scoring 19 and conceding just four.
Conclusion
On paper, this has all the making of a game that should produce plenty of action. Given the historic rivalry between the two, particularly in the FA Cup, both Emery and Solskjaer should see this as the perfect chance to extend their winning run. With the last meeting ending 2-2 back in December, we’re backing another high scoring encounter on Friday night.
Verdict: Over three goals
Best Odds: 5/4
Bookmaker: Bet365
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