Arsenal v Manchester United
FA Cup – 7.55 pm
Friday, January 25th
BBC One
I remember back in 1999 when Ryan Giggs produced one of the most famous moments in the history of the FA Cup. It was the FA Cup semi-final replay, with Manchester United trying to get past their rivals Arsenal. Giggs collected the ball inside his own half, meandered his way past the entire Arsenal defence and fired the ball into the roof of the net.
It is one of the best imagination-capturing goals ever scored in the competition.
The Red Devils went on to win the title that year, beating Newcastle in the final. That old FA Cup rivalry between Arsenal and Manchester United gets renewed on Friday evening when the two clubs go at it in the fourth round of this year’s edition.
Between them, Arsenal and Manchester United have won the FA Cup 25 times, amassing 40 FA Cup final appearances between them (20 each). They are the two most successful clubs in the history of the competition, with Arsenal having lifted the trophy on 13 occasions, and the Red Devils doing so on 12 occasions.
Rivalry renewed
This will be the first meeting between the two sides in the FA Cup since their coming together back in March 2015, when Arsenal took a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford. This will be their 16th meeting in the famous old competition and the head-to-head is just slightly being shaded by the Red Devils. United hold a W7 D2 L6 record against the Gunners in the FA Cup.
The two of them have already met this season as they squared off at the start of December last year in the Premier League. Twice in the match Arsenal went ahead and on both occasions, they were pegged back very quickly by United. In their last meeting at the Emirates, the Red Devils came away with a 3-1 victory in last season’s Premier League.
A giant will fall
Of course, with such a heavyweight meeting in the fourth round of the competition, one of the giants of the FA Cup will be taking an early tumble. Heading into the match Manchester United are 8/1 odds to win the tournament outright this season, with Arsenal around the 12/1 odds mark, depending on which leading bookmaker you go and have a look at. But make no mistake about it. At the end of the day there is going to be an early major casualty in this season’s tournament when the final whistle blows on this match.
No holds barred
Sometimes these cup competitions, with all the modern demands of the league and European action, can often fall by the wayside in terms of priority. However, because of the perceived difficulty facing both of these in this fourth-round clash, there is little doubt that the two will be going at it hammer and tongs. Both of them are very likely to field strong starting elevens. This is hardly the time to be sitting back and taking this lightly. For both, it will represent the final chance this season to get their hands on a piece of domestic silverware.
Red Devils roaring again
Since the autocratic methods of Jose Mourinho exited Old Trafford along with the Portuguese manager back in December, it is almost like a fog has been lifted over the Theatre of Dreams. Former striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has come in, and has immediately breathed new life into the side. That includes guiding them to a massive three points in the Premier League recently away at Tottenham.
After such a laboured season under Mourinho, Manchester United have rediscovered some of that old attacking swagger. They are currently running on a seven-match winning streak across all competitions, including a home win over Championship side Reading in the third round of the FA Cup at the start of the year.
Arsenal impress at home
It’s been no secret really that Arsenal have had their problems with their form lately. When you take a look at the overall picture, you see a W4 D1 L4 record in their last nine games across all competitions. However, if you break it down to only look at their home form, things start to look much better for Unai Emery’s side. Why? Because the Gunners have won six of their last seven home games across all competitions. That includes what actually turned out to be an easy win in a London derby clash with Chelsea on the weekend.
With nine goals netted in their last three home fixtures, the Gunners are not likely to be any kind of a pushover on home soil when the Red Devils come to visit. Arsenal’s only home defeats this season have been against high-quality opposition. They lost their first home league game of the season against Manchester City, and their one other home reverse happened in mid-December when they lost in the league cup at the Emirates against Tottenham.
Summary
There is always something special when Arsenal and Manchester United come together. It immediately reignites some memories of fantastic previous battles between the two sides, and not just in the FA Cup.
I can recall that breathtaking moment in 1999 when Giggs stunned Wembley with his incredible solo effort, as well as I can recall their 2011 Premier League meeting when Manchester United fired eight goals past the Gunners. It’s just last season that I can look back on drama as well, with a last-gasp winner coming from Marouane Fellaini for United at Old Trafford. What magical moments will this latest clash deliver?
