Arsenal v Manchester United: Preview

Manchester United bring a slender but significant advantage to the Emirates on Tuesday night. Slender because the lead is narrow, but significant because it they have not conceded away goal.

All the talk is that Manchester United will score at the Emirates and because of that, Arsenal are favourites to go out at the semi final stage. I think realistically, most Arsenal fans, and the players accept that they are underdogs. However, before a ball is kicked at this stage, both Manchester United and Arsenal would have told you that they would have wanted a two goal lead in the home legs and nothing has changed. Arsenal's remit is simple. forget the away goal and beat Manchester United, arguably the second best team in the world, by two goals on your own ground. It's that simple. When you think about it like that, then you can forget about away goals, forget about the obsession with our depleted defence, we just have to get on with it.

Wenger will be the happier manager. Why? Because his team are still in the tie. There is a distinct feeling that Arsenal got away with it at Old Trafford, and that's because they did. That feeling will remain in the minds of both sets of players. If things aren't going Man U's way, they will be thinking, why oh why didn't we finish them off at our place?

But still, on balance, Man U are very capable of coming to the Emirates and beating Arsenal. They are a danagerous team with three match winners: Ronaldo, Tevez and Rooney. Arsenal have Fabregas, Nasri, Walcott and Adebayor. Yes, Adebayor. He was relatively poor at Old Trafford, but, he was starved of service, had effectively no partner, and never forget, he is a big game player. He has an excellent scoring record in big games and even when he isn't playing well, he can pop up with a key goal. Ask Villareal. I suspect Tuesday night might be his night.

The key deciding factors, as I see it, are:

Adebayor v Vidic: If Ade is up for it, he can bully Vidic especially if Rio doesn't make it.

Fabregas' position: It is beyond comprehension why Wenger is persisting to play Cesc as the advanced midfielder. Firstly, it isn't his favourite position, and secondly, we have other players itching to play there, that actually are good in that position! Nasri and Fabregas need to swap positions for the return leg. If RVP is fit, he can also play there. Play Cesc where he is at his most destructive to the opposition: in central midfield with more players in front of him than behind him.

Containment: Ronaldo and Rooney are pivotal to Man U goalscoring threat. Containing them is going to be tough but not impossible. In the league match at the Emirates, this was achieved with good success. Rooney and Ronaldo will be playing from the flanks so they key to keeping them quiet is the advanced wing players to track back and help the full backs.

Assuming RVP is not fit, this is the likely team:

Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Silvestre, Gibbs/Clichy
Nasri, Fabregas, Song, Diaby, Walcott
Adebayor

I would like to see a more attacking formation that lends support to Adebayor whilst still protects those flanks. Now, I know that I am going to get derided for this but this is the team I would play:

Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Djourou, Gibbs/Clichy
Nasri, Fabregas, Song, Eboue, Walcott
Adebayor

This system puts eboue and walcott on each flank allowing song to hold the midfield, fabregas to play slightly further forward, and nasri closest to adebayor. Now, I know Eboue's limitations, but whilst Arshavin is cup-tied, he will add balance to the side. He can play on the right, and will get back to help out sagna. Walcott will play on the other flank meaning we will have pace on the wings. This system will allow the central midfielders to play in their preferred position and hopefully get support to Adebayor. If RVP is fit he replaces Eboue and Nasri moves to the flanks.

I predict a victory for Arsenal but I am not sure if the margin will be enough to take them through....

Fingers-crossed gooners....