Arsenal head to Manchester on Monday night as they prepare to face Manchester United at Old Trafford, a place where Arsenal haven’t won since 2007.
The biggest game of both Manchester United and Arsenal’s season, whoever wins is going to be favourites to win the FA Cup and whoever loses will have question marks raised in every department.
Arsenal have an awful record against Manchester United with just one win in 15 games and they haven’t beaten United since 2011, Emmanuel Adebayor also scored the winner as the Gunners won at Old Trafford in 2007 and that was the last time Arsenal won at Manchester United.
Both have had mixed seasons but Manchester United have lost just twice in 21 games and despite not playing well, they are grinding out result after result and this is a game they need to win if Louis Van Gaal is to keep his job for me. He is slightly better off than David Moyes in his first Manchester United season but just because he has a reputable CV it automatically makes him better, if Van Gaal is to be Manchester United manager next season, he must win a trophy considering he spent £150m on signings last summer.
As for Arsenal, they have started to grind out results themselves and come in off the back of a 2-1 win at QPR on Wednesday night, and have lost just twice away from home since the turn of the year. Alexis Sanchez scored his first goal in nearly two months last week and that should give him the world of confidence, Mesut Özil is also playing well and look a real threat going forward. I feel if they can hurt a weak United defence, they will win the game.
Team News
Former Arsenal man Robin Van Persie has had a poor season and misses out after injuring his ankle against Swansea two weeks ago and Jonny Evans will serve the first of his six-game ban for spitting to give United more defensive troubles. Gabriel Paulista was ruled out for two to three weeks against QPR five days ago whilst Wojciech Szczesny and Nacho Monreal could both return from respective illness and back problems.
Prediction:
Manchester United v Arsenal games are always very intense and despite both not having glorious seasons, it is still a very intriguing encounter. I’m calling Manchester United 2-1 Arsenal, the Gunners winless run at Old Trafford will continue.
