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The FA Cup tie on Friday that pits Manchester United against Arsenal will be the second stern test that Ole Gunnar will face in his managerial career. The Gunners will provide a much different threat to Manchester United than any other team they have faced under Solskjaer.
This, however, will not deter the Norwegian boss and his Manchester United team from trying to go for the win in this tie. Like every other game that they have played under Solskjaer, the team will be full of confidence and will come with a want-to-win mentality.
No matter who the Norwegian plays, he will have surely instructed them to try and win the game at all costs. The Norwegian is a winner and it is clearly rubbing off on his players.
The Gunners will not be expected to roll over and let Manchester United walk all over them; they will also pose a threat to them. And with that in mind, the manager will have to pick a squad that is fully balanced to defend as well as attack.
With Chris Smalling back from injury and Eric Bailly also back after his suspension, the competition for the centre back positions is one that the manager will surely welcome.
Of course, the manager will want to rest some of his first-team players for this tie, but he will have to be mindful of the Arsenal team when he does that.
You don't fix what is broken as a famous saying goes, so the team should continue to lineup in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Goalkeeper:
David De Gea is to continue in the goalkeeping position in this FA cup match. He’s on a role and with his conceding only four goals in the seven games under Solskjaer; the manager will surely want to maintain him in goal.
If not for any other thing, but because he’s currently one of the best goalkeepers in the world and you want your best to play in big games like this one. David De Gea will want to keep a clean sheet in this game and give United all the hope of trying to win this game.
Defence
With the expected returns of Eric Bailly and Chris Smalling, the Manchester United backline will have some much-needed depth. The right-back position is likely to be occupied by Ashley Young due to the continued absence of Antonio Valencia.
Ole Gunnar has shown that he likes his full-backs to get forward and provide width and Ashley Young is certainly one that enjoys doing that. On the opposite flank, if Luke Shaw manages to recover from the illness that kept him out of Brighton match, he will surely start. If not, then Matteo Darmian should be the obvious choice to replace him.
Most fans may prefer Diogo Dalot to start, but Darmian just edges him because of his experience and also his solid defensive style of play. This will be particularly vital as the Italian will provide balance for the team in the times when Young is attacking.
With Smalling back in contention, he should definitely start this game so that the manager can finally gauge him in a game. He should be partnered by the now impeccable Victor Lindelof to try and keep the Arsenal forwards at bay.
In conclusion, United should line up with a back four of Darmian, Smalling, Lindelof and Shaw.
Midfield
The midfield has certainly been solid, fluid and consistent under Solskjaer than it had been before. The consistency has certainly been brought by the new manager picking out specific roles for each of his midfield players and that has worked a treat for him.
There will certainly be no need for the manager to change the midfield, maybe he may do in part, but not entirely. Fred hasn’t started many games for Manchester United since his arrival and the manager will want to give him some game time so that he may try to get in rhythm with the other midfielders. That will mean that either Nemanja Matic or Ander Herrera may have to be rested in this scenario.
The manager may also opt to start that same partnership that has worked well for him so far and rest one of them in their next Premier League game. There’s absolutely no doubt that the third man in that midfield will be Paul Pogba. He has been in sensational form and the manager will hope that he continues that trend against Arsenal.
Pogba has certainly been the one that has been knitting the midfield and attack since Ole Gunnar’s arrival and the manager will see no reason to rest the flamboyant French star.
Should start a midfield of Matic, Herrera and Pogba.
Forward:
The young men that have started in the forward positions in most of Ole Gunnar’s games have certainly stared. This game, however, the manager may just opt to break that trio and possibly, start only one of them.
The player that will most definitely start this game is none other than Marcus Rashford. He has become kind of a talisman for the team and with his scoring ratio also going up, the manager will want to keep the momentum going for this young forward.
In this game, the manager should look to play him on the left of the front three with Romelu Lukaku as the main striker. The manager has clearly stated that he doesn’t want Lukaku to play as the target man and the big Belgian will have to work the channels as well as try and bring the runners from midfield into play.
With Lukaku as the main striker, Rashford will certainly have enough room on the left to run past his marker and try to score goals like the one he scored against Brighton on Saturday, coming in from the left.
The last position will be occupied by the creative and instinctive Juan Manuel Mata. Mata will be tasked with trying to create chances for his teammates and also if he can, score a goal or two. Mata is a big-game player and will want to shine in this game and possibly sneak into the starting eleven from now on.
Here's how the team should lineup against Arsenal
David de Gea, Diogo Dalot, Chris Smalling, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw, Nemanja Matic, Ander Herrera, Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford, Romelu Lukaku
