FA Cup Fourth Round: Why Arsenal vs Manchester United will be worth watching
The FA Cup returns this weekend with Arsenal vs Manchester United among the two matches to be played on Friday night. The rise of teams such as Chelsea and Manchester City in the last few years means that Arsenal and United are no longer the only dominant force in English football.
However, the two clubs are still fierce rivals with fans expecting a classic every time they meet. The upcoming FA Cup fixture might, therefore, turn out to be another great match. There are several reasons why Arsenal vs Manchester United will be worth watching.
It will be a battle for supremacy
Arsenal and United are the most successful clubs in the history of the competition. Arsenal has won the FA Cup a record 13 times with United taking it home on 12 occasions.
The match will offer one of the two teams an opportunity to advance and possibly continue their dominance in the competition.
Arsenal will be seeking to consolidate their position as the most successful club in the competition. On the other hand, United will be aiming to win their 13th FA cup and become joint top with Arsenal.
The teams will, therefore, give their best, as only a win will do, making the match a must-watch affair.
It is the only domestic trophy the two clubs can win
The FA Cup is the only realistic chance Arsenal and United have of winning a domestic trophy. They currently lie out of the top four in the league and are out of the Carabao Cup.
Ending the season without a trophy is usually unacceptable for the two clubs. The teams will, therefore, have to produce an outstanding performance to increase the probability of realizing domestic glory come the end of the season.
The new managers want to impress
Arsenal and United both have new managers who will want to prove they are the right men for the jobs. The best way they can achieve this is by winning their first trophy with their respective clubs.
Thus, there is a high probability that both Arsenal's Unai Emery and United's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will field a strong squad and demand nothing less than a win. The fielding of first-team players will result in a competitive and entertaining match that any football fan would not want to miss.
Arsenal’s brilliant form at home and Manchester United’s current form
The Gunners' home form and the Red Devils' current form will help produce a great match. Arsenal has performed well at home against top teams in the league. They have drawn against league leaders Liverpool, beaten Spurs, and recently won against Chelsea. They will hope to continue with the same display come Friday.
On the other hand, United is a new team under Solskjaer winning all their matches, including the one against Spurs at Wembley, since his arrival in December.
The factors are therefore likely to contribute to an intriguing match characterized by great individual and team performances. So, try not to miss the match, especially if you are a neutral fan.