Manchester United vs. Arsenal: FA Cup match preview
by Ted Harwood on Mar 11, 2011 9:43 AM EST
in FA Cup
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Kickoff: Saturday, March 11, 1215 PM EST
Old Trafford
TV Coverage: Fox Soccer Channel
SBN Manchester United coverage: The Busby Babe
Well, it's really coming down to it now, isn't it? Barcelona seems like it just finished, and now, oh look, Arsenal travel to Old Trafford, where they haven't managed a win since...September 2006 (Emmanuel Adebayor, anyone?) to face Manchester United in the sixth round of the FA Cup. It's the first time the teams have faced each other in the competition since February 2008, when a weakened Arsenal were well beaten 4-0 at Old Trafford.
That is all ancient history, now, though, of course. What matters now is that Arsenal pick themselves up from the events of midweek and put in a good showing up north. It's down to two competitions now, fixture congestion is clearing up some, and with a two week break looming on the horizon, there is perhaps a little room to really go for it this weekend.
The injury news, though, is not particularly good. Captain Cesc Fabregas will miss two matches with a hamstring recurrence, Thomas Vermaelen is still indefinitely out, Alex Song's knee is no good yet, Theo Walcott is still out with his ankle problem, and Wojciech Szczesny is set to miss six weeks with a dislocated finger.
This last is particularly worrying, of course, because Arsenal are down to exactly one healthy senior goalkeeper: Manuel Almunia. Vito Mannone could be recalled, but he is injured himself for the next six weeks. James Shea is the closest Arsenal have to a second keeper as of right now, but he's on loan at Southampton, and he's 19. Therefore, Arsène Wenger has said that the need for an emergency keeper is severe.
United, for their part, aren't much better off. Nani is a strong doubt with a gashed leg; Park Ji Sung and Anderson are both doubts as well. Antonio Valencia, Jonny Evans, and Rio Ferdinand are also strong doubts.
Possible lineup (4-2-3-1): Almunia; Sagna, Djourou, Koscielny, Clichy; Denilson, Wilshere, Nasri; Arshavin, van Persie, Bendtner.
[Ed. note: I suppose Rosicky could be in there, but man, he looks wiped out. I miss the old Rosicky].
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Even though it wasn't against United
Arsenal do have a good history at Old Trafford in the FA Cup. And then there was this title-deciding goal at OT a year later.
Man, those gold shirts were horrible.
It's not like the yellow ones are much better.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
"If I do it wrong just break another toe. Three's my lucky number anyway." -Evan Lysacek: 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist ♥
by ClemsonGirl on Mar 11, 2011 11:52 AM EST up reply actions
The current yellow ones?
Those are completely awesome and are probably my favorite Arsenal shirt from the last 20 years. And they have the advantage of being a traditional Arsenal color, unlike the gold.
Those are nice
I do, though, want to take both the light green and pink keeper kits and burn them up.
"I know you're from Middle America, and sometimes you feel like you're representing more than just a school or a conference, maybe an entire group of American citizens out there."
by Twin Cities Hawk on Mar 11, 2011 12:11 PM EST up reply actions
I would be OK with them if not for the tiger stripes
Green, again, is a fairly traditional goalkeeper color so I’m OK with it – pink is ehhhhh but they’d both be better without the damn sleeve stripes.
It's the hue of the green that I don't like
Get them darker and I’m a-OK with it.
"I know you're from Middle America, and sometimes you feel like you're representing more than just a school or a conference, maybe an entire group of American citizens out there."
by Twin Cities Hawk on Mar 11, 2011 1:47 PM EST up reply actions
The current yellow ones are awesome
"Phil Jackson seems to enjoy his status as 'NBA grand philosopher' and uses that platform to lob verbal hand grenades into other franchises or the league offices for fun." - Kurt Helin
Stalk, err, Follow me on Twitter: @bluefalcon916
They are so ugly.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
"If I do it wrong just break another toe. Three's my lucky number anyway." -Evan Lysacek: 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist ♥
But apparently that's just me.
And I don’t understand why because yellow is my favorite color but that shade of it is just…no.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
"If I do it wrong just break another toe. Three's my lucky number anyway." -Evan Lysacek: 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist ♥
THESE YELLOW ONES ARE GREAT!
Except with yellow pants. Then we lose.
Squeezed to Song and Bendtner and Song and Nasri oh lovely lovely lovely!
-Peter Drury, the one time his commentating has ever been acceptable.
by Aidan Gibson on Mar 11, 2011 9:12 PM EST up reply actions
Having Diaby or Denilson
as a replacement for Song doesn’t fill me with confidence.
Will Nasri play the Cesc role?
Or Rosicky?
Squeezed to Song and Bendtner and Song and Nasri oh lovely lovely lovely!
-Peter Drury, the one time his commentating has ever been acceptable.
I vote denilson and Nasri
Diaby looked really uncomfortable under any kind of pressure on tuesday.
Captain, there are doubt's...
"It’s a good opportunity to show we have the strength to respond" - Arsene Wenger, 2011
There is of course
the outside chance that Rambo! could play
Squeezed to Song and Bendtner and Song and Nasri oh lovely lovely lovely!
-Peter Drury, the one time his commentating has ever been acceptable.
by Aidan Gibson on Mar 11, 2011 10:34 PM EST up reply actions
I think Wenger will want his first game back to be at Emirates, or at least not at Old Trafford.
My bet is Diaby and Denilson unless we play Bendtner on the right wing because Rosicky isn’t threatening enough up there to hurt United.
Team!
Almunia, Sagna, Koscielny, Djoruour, Gibbs; Denilson, Diaby; Nasri, Wilshere, Arshavin; van Persie
Not sure where Jack and Diaby will play.
Squeezed to Song and Bendtner and Song and Nasri oh lovely lovely lovely!
-Peter Drury, the one time his commentating has ever been acceptable.
United's team:
Van Der Sar, Rafael, Smalling, Vidic, Evra; Fabio, Brown, O’Shea, Gibson, Rooney; Hernandez.
I assume it’s 4-5-1, with Rooney playing on the left. They’ll try and counter with Fabio, Hernandez and Rooney
Squeezed to Song and Bendtner and Song and Nasri oh lovely lovely lovely!
-Peter Drury, the one time his commentating has ever been acceptable.
Well they've made it pretty clear how they'll play us. Going to be tough to break past that many defensive players.
Hernandez is going to be the main goal threat here, though Rooney is still Rooney and thus capable of massive things.
I don’t see this match having a winner without Cesc and Theo and with United playing such a defensive minded team. 1-1 is my guess.
Yeah, they'll be deep
I’m scared of Rafael and Fabio on the break.
And, as you said, no Cesc
Squeezed to Song and Bendtner and Song and Nasri oh lovely lovely lovely!
-Peter Drury, the one time his commentating has ever been acceptable.
by Aidan Gibson on Mar 12, 2011 11:37 AM EST up reply actions
is the open thread showing up for you guys yet?
by Ted Harwood on Mar 12, 2011 11:56 AM EST up reply actions
Yes
Squeezed to Song and Bendtner and Song and Nasri oh lovely lovely lovely!
-Peter Drury, the one time his commentating has ever been acceptable.
by Aidan Gibson on Mar 12, 2011 12:07 PM EST up reply actions
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