Manchester United vs Arsenal: FA Cup Quarter Final Analysis

The FA Cup has been for a while, the dominant KO competition in England, and safe to say, in all of Europe too! The quarterfinal clash between Manchester United and Arsenal will prove to be nothing short of mouthwatering! The tale of two rivals will once again prove to deliver the inevitable drama we have all come to love in the game of Football!

Radamel Falcao, once the most coveted striker in World Football, will be available and ready to go, after a lengthy injury layoff which has seen him on the bench for most of this season for United. The big question remains, however, as to whether or not coach Louis Van Gaal will actually feature Falcao in his starting eleven for this match. As of late, evidently so too, Falcao hasn't featured half as much as expected in Van Gaal's plans, and this has caused a huge strain between fans and the coaching staff for some time now regarding how much United's formation fails to suit the South American hitman! Ashley Young will be fresh in form after a string of decent performances for the Red Devils, as he will surely remain a goal threat against the Gunners.

Olivier Giroud, Santi, Cazorla, Mesut Ozil, and Alexis Sanchez will all be ready and loaded for the big game! Arsenal boast an attack that has the ability to be one of the most deadliest teams, on a good day that is. They lack consistency, and proper structure especially when they face bigger oppositions, but it's no doubt that Arsenal have continually produced some of the most entertaining football in Europe! Arsene Wenger will no doubt have his hands full as he knows the progress of his club hangs in the balance of this match, as he looks to defend his FA Cup title, with success. 

Arsenal's track record vs Manchester United hasn't been the best of the best, as they haven't only beaten Man. United once in the last 12 games, and this is perhaps to their advantage if Wenger's men are able to spin the 'psychology game' correctly! Arsenal will no doubt be bringing the bang come Monday, but they need to play on United's possible overconfidence, and strike where they least expect it, by pressing in United's box and exposing their vulnerability in midfield, making sure the likes of Di Maria is completely marked out of the game! Their biggest task, however, will be preparing for the likes of Wayne Rooney, who has always been Arsenal's kryptonite for over a decade! Arsenal's main priorities will be to preserve their back four, and ensure that they keep majority of their possession in the midfield with the likes of Coquelin leading the defensive charge, to ensure that they are able to release the likes of Alexis and Giroud to create damage in the United box!

Manchester United will play under another one of Van Gaal's horrendous formations, which may end up being their ticket out of the FA Cup, and yet result in another trophy-less season for the Devils. Manchester United will be without Robin Van Persie, but they do have Falcao and Fellaini to push on for United, but will that even be enough? Ryan Giggs' stare at Van Gaal during United's previous win over Newcastle suggests that all isn't right at the camp, and it's pretty evident, no matter how much Van Gaal tries to play it off, that even his assistant is infuriated with United's style of play!

What can we expect come Monday? There will be goals for sure, as both teams will put it all on the line, and play for it all! This isn't a Premier League match, where both teams would've taken calculated measures, this one is for the FA Cup, where it will be 'all guns blazing!'


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