'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The FA Cup on Friday night will provide another opportunity to see Manchester United and Arsenal take to the field once again. These two teams were in the middle of supremacy battles back in the mid ’90s and early 2000s.
This was mainly because of their legendary managers, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger.
To date, most fans of both teams still consider a match between these two giants to be one of the toughest games of the season.
Arsenal, fresh from their convincing 2-0 win against Chelsea, are brimming with confidence, as they should after winning such a big game.
Manchester United on the other hand, is on a run of seven wins, and they too are brimming with confidence. As both teams are in high confidence, the match is expected to be full of entertainment.
Since the appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the Manchester United players have looked in high spirits, and their performances have been proof. But Arsenal will provide a much sterner test than any side they have met under the Norwegian boss.
The team has looked quite vulnerable at the back in their last two games, and Arsenal will have taken note of that. If United are to come out on top, some players will have to bring their A game.
Here are some players Arsenal should be watchful of in their game against the Red Devils.
#1 Jesse Lingard
One of the most underrated players in the United squad today, Jesse Lingard simply doesn’t receive as many accolades as his teammates. But there’s a reason why Manchester United managers keep on playing him.
He’s tactically astute, and keeps the team shape than most of the young players in the United squad. He also works his socks off, both on and off the ball in every game. If you look at how Ole Gunnar has been playing the team, Jesse Lingard plays a unique and important role for them.
He usually starts on the right of the front three, but drifts infield throughout the game, since the main striker, Rashford, likes to work the channels. With him doing that, he ensures that there’s always a player to receive the ball when it plays through the middle.
In essence - Lingard makes sure the shape of the team is kept, and also when they are defending, it becomes easy with him on the field thanks to his positional sense. Arsenal will want to keep track of him, as he will drag his marker all over, leaving spaces on Arsenal’s left flank for United to exploit.
#2 Victor Lindelof
The rebirth of Victor Lindelof this season has really been something to marvel at for most Manchester United fans. The Swede finally looks like the player Manchester United thought they were getting when they forked out a huge sum to get him from Benfica.
He has been strong on the tackle, plays the ball from the back excellently, and to top it all, he’s providing a physical presence at the heart of the back four. Since Chris Smalling's injury, the Manchester United back-line has depended hugely on Victor Lindelof. And he hasn’t disappointed.
His cross field balls to the strikers have given Manchester United a new dimension when building from the back. No longer does the team depend on a midfielder dropping deep to pick a pass from the back, as Lindelof has been doing that quite well.
One can say that finally Lindelof has adapted to the physical nature of English football, as you no longer see him get bullied around by opposing strikers. Against Arsenal, the Swede will look to continue with his form, and keep Arsenal strikers at bay, and also provide an outlet for United at the back.
#3 Ander Herrera
One player who has gone about his business with little fuss since the appointment of Ole Gunnar as the manager is Ander Herrera. After the game against Brighton on Saturday, the boss had words of praise for his midfield general.
All the talk has been of Paul Pogba finally hitting form consistently, but Herrera has gone about his business silently. He’s been hunting down opposition runners from midfield, covering for his full-backs, and also picking out forwards with great passes.
He already has 2 assists and a goal to his name under Ole Gunnar, and finally looks settled in a midfield partnership with Nemanja Matic.
Ander Herrera is one player most teams don’t consider much of a threat, but that has been to their own peril. He will certainly not pick an assist every game or even score, but the kind of work he has been doing by keeping the midfield ticking is what makes Manchester United functional under Ole Gunnar.
#4 Paul Pogba
What more can be said about Paul Pogba in the games under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer? He has simply been outstanding, and finally he’s the driving force in the team. Most praises have been going to Ole Gunnar, but Paul Pogba should also get some praises for upping his game.
For most opponents now, Paul Pogba is a force to be reckoned with, and has been given special attention. We all knew about the French man’s undoubted talent, and finally he’s showing it on a consistent basis.
With a much freer role under the Norwegian boss, Paul Pogba is now developing into the box to box midfielder everyone hoped he'd be. He’s also chipping in with goals and assists while also helping out the team in defensive situations.
No longer is he tied down to a defensive role because of his physic, as he now bombards the opposition box and terrorises their defenders constantly. He looks happy in the role he’s playing, and he’s knitting the midfield and the forward line quite effectively.
Against Arsenal, he will want to show the whole world that he can do the same against top opposition, so Arsenal will need to keep a close eye on him.
