English FA CUP
2019-01-25 - Arsenal vs Manchester United
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English FA Cup Fourth Round
Friday 25th January 2019 - Kick Off 7:55pm
This game is live on TV
Arsenal
Since the day he walked into the club, Unai Emery has made it clear he would much rather win trophies than finish in the top four of the Premier League, although I am sure he knows the importance of Arsenal returning to the Champions League. Trophies have been a part of Emery's managerial career at Sevilla and Paris Saint-Germain and that has seen him pick strong teams in the domestic Cups and the Europa League this season.
If Arsenal had been beaten by Chelsea in the Premier League last weekend I can imagine Emery's focus would have moved completely to the FA Cup and Europa League, but the win means they are very much in the top four race. However this is a huge FA Cup tie coming up for Arsenal and the new manager did pick a strong team when they exited the League Cup to Tottenham Hotspur so the feeling is that Unai Emery will do the same in a competition that Arsenal have thrived in in recent years.
Arsenal have won 4 of their last 7 games in all competitions including 3 of their last 4 which should mean they head into this fixture with some confidence. The form at the Emirates Stadium has been particularly good for Arsenal over the last couple of months and they have won 6 of their last 7 here in all competitions with the sole exception being the League Cup defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
The Gunners are next back in action on Tuesday night in the Premier League, but Hector Bellerin has become the latest long-term injury in the squad along with Rob Holding and Danny Welbeck. Henrikh Mkhitaryan is perhaps not quite ready to take on his former club.
Manchester United
The positive vibes continue to come out of Old Trafford under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the win over Brighton last Saturday made it seven in a row under the Norwegian Caretaker Manager. Every week his own chances have to be improving to become manager of the club on a permanent basis, but Solskjaer won't be concerning himself with that but instead wants to keep the players focused on producing more wins.
A defeat for Chelsea and injury concerns for Tottenham Hotspur certainly makes a top four finish more attainable for Manchester United, but that race can be put aside until next Tuesday. The FA Cup is clearly an important trophy for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and he has made that clear in press conferences suggesting he wants a good run in the competition. In the last couple of years Manchester United have won the FA Cup in 2016 and reached the Final in 2018.
Manchester United have won 7 in a row in all competitions since the back to back losses to Valencia and Liverpool that cost Jose Mourinho his job and that run includes a comfortable 2-0 win over Reading in the FA Cup Third Round. They have won 3 straight away games in the Premier League and Manchester United have returned with clean sheets in each of their last 2 on their travels.
Marouane Fellaini is expected to return from injury next month, while both Marcos Rojo and Chris Smalling are doubts. Luke Shaw should recover from an illness, but Marcus Rashford may not be risked with the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez ready to step in and deputise.
Head to Head
Manchester United twice came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford in December.
Manchester United did beat Arsenal 1-3 at the Emirates Stadium last season, but had lost on consecutive visits to this part of North London prior to that.
Prediction
As soon as the draw was made for the FA Cup Fourth Round the tie of the Round was the fixture between Arsenal and Manchester United who are the two most successful clubs in the history of this famous old trophy.
It could be a pivotal fixture for the two managers too as they look to put their clubs in a position to win some silverware, but it may also serve as something of a momentum builder in the race for the top four places in the Premier League.
There may not be points on the line, but Manchester United have won 7 straight under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and beating another top four rival away from home will be a big confidence boost. They did that at Tottenham Hotspur a couple of weeks ago and denting the confidence of Arsenal may just give Manchester United a leg up on those teams going into February.
Unai Emery may be thinking the same having seen his Arsenal team beat Chelsea last weekend and doing the same against Manchester United in the Cup may indicate his team are through a poor patch of form. It could also be a win that gives one of these teams the mental edge with the Premier League fixture between the two just six weeks away and I think there is enough on the line to think two strong teams will be picked.
The Arsenal line up is arguably easier to predict, but I would not be surprised if Manchester United make changes in the final third and allow Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez to both start. Those changes may have an impact in the type of speed and energy offered in the final third, but Marcus Rashford could need a rest and Solskjaer does want options in attacking areas with the fixtures coming thick and fast over the next month.
Neither defence offers a lot of encouragement and I do think this is going to develop into a fantastic, attacking Cup tie. Both teams will know how much more comfortable they are on the front foot and either team earning a clean sheet would be something of a surprise to me.
There were four goals shared out at Old Trafford when they met in December and the desire to avoid a Replay should mean both managers set their teams up to be very attack minded. Picking a winner is not easy because Manchester United look to have rounded into nice form, but Arsenal have to be respected as a team who have been much better at home than on their travels.
I would love to see United do this and continue the momentum into the next three League games ahead of the Champions League resumption against Paris Saint-Germain, but the best selection for the game looks to be backing at least three goals to be shared out on what is going to be a chilly London evening.
The Pick :
Arsenal 2-2 Manchester United
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll back Over 2.5 Goals at 1.65 with BetVictor
