Manchester United Thread

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FA Cup Round 5

Old Trafford

Saturday, February 16, 2008, 5.15pm



Manchester United


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Arsena



By Richard Clarke
Saturday will be an occasion in which Arsenal and Arsène Wenger have to dig deep.
The manager admits he must delve down into his squad just to put out a side against Manchester United in the FA Cup Fifth Round tie. On Friday afternoon, the Frenchman claimed he had only 14 fit outfield players and several struggling members of his squad would have to travel up north in the hope of recovering overnight.
With that in mind, those who emerge from the tunnel at Old Trafford know they will have one almighty battle on their hands.
Apart from the injuries, Arsenal are actually in fine fettle right now and the word "treble" has just started to peek into the odd press conference. Of course the manager dismisses the notion out of hand but it is certainly not stretching a point to suggest that Arsenal's future in all three remaining competitions will be influenced by this game.
Last weekend Wenger's men moved five points clear of Manchester United at the top of the Premier League. Surely a win at Old Trafford with an injury-ravaged side would give them a psychological edge when they return in April for the critical fixture in the title race?
Secondly, Arsenal entertain a resurgent Milan on Wednesday in the Champions League Knockout Round first leg. And, at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Wenger was certainly suggesting that Saturday's game would set the tone for a vital week.
"We will dig deep tomorrow because we want to win the game and we want to qualify," said Wenger.
"Manchester United are a big club and certainly they will want to respond to the two disappointments they had recently, so it promises to be an interesting tie tomorrow.
"We will fight, don't worry. It's always better to win because it makes you stronger. I believe highly in that influence. You want to win and you want to win the big games especially because it makes your whole squad stronger.
"And I certainly feel they are still in the title race anyway. Two games ago we were second. That shows you how quickly it can change from one day to the next. And this year, it changes very quickly."
Wenger could do with his injury situation doing something similar before the 5.15pm kick-off (UK time) on Saturday.
Nine players are out and three will travel with injuries. The definite absentees are: Johan Djourou (groin), Robin van Persie (thigh), Abou Diaby (calf), Manuel Almunia (sick), Denilson (hamstring), Tomas Rosicky (hamstring), Theo Walcott (thigh), Alex Song (muscular) and Bacary Sagna (personal reasons). The travelling players are: Philippe Senderos (knee), Gael Clichy (hamstring) and Emmanuel Adebayor (hamstring).
There was a moment of humour - even though it is no laughing matter - at the press conference when Wenger was asked if a youngster like Henri Lansbury, 17-years-old, might be drafted in.
"Lansbury has glandular fever," replied the manager.
Of course, Manchester United have the same three trophies in their sights. They are not suffering the same injury crisis and it could be argued their upcoming Champions League tie will be a little less testing.
However Wenger believes both sides will go for it on Saturday, especially as replays are not required at this stage of the season.
"I expect them to play a full strength side," said the 58-year-old. "Maybe I’m wrong but I expect them to play with their best possible team.
"Of course you can never predict it but usually the cup games [between these sides ] are very good and both teams go for it.
"Both teams will do that because we don’t want a replay and Manchester United don’t want a replay as well that is why it should be an exciting game."
And a pivotal one too.
 
yes Dime - may the best win ..Though I suspecct with AFC's injury problems, we just mite lose this one...
 
quite disturbing bros

arsenal not playing their usual game..
i believe they're going for EPL title...Uncle Lehman in the first 11 and i sensed something is not right
 
Woohoooo! United!! Carrick and Anderson was magnificent. So was Nani and Rooney. The whole team played well. Off to the quarter finals. We are the famous Man Utd and we are going to Wembley!
 
somehow that wasn't the real arsenal playing,were they?
what telah happen?lol

hopefully manu gets some 1st div team nxt round!
 
bro sub has a point there

winning the EPL= loadsa of money. getting the top 4 spots = more $ from the European champions league

winning FA cup = lesser $ via UEFA cup

mr wenger is being pragmatic here.winning a treble ain't easy and the teams who have done that can be counted on one hand.he knows this team is good but probably not as good as the Invincibles.

Even the Invincibles have difficulties doing the treble.In my opinion, a lack of quality strikers is the reason Arsenal is abandoning the chase for the treble. They have only Adebayor and that's it.
Can see from this morning game without Adebayor, they are basically toothless

98-99 Man Utd European CL team have 4 quality strikers-Yorke,Cole,Teddy and Ole.

My fear is only that with FA Cup out of the way, a more concentrated onslaught will be done to wrap up the EPL asap.As it is ,Man Utd is chasing by 5 points.It will take probably divine intervention to stop Arsenal juggernaut in EPL...
 
Even though the Invincibles did an incredible feat of staying unbeaten for 49 games, the calss of 99 was better as they had to face tougher oppositions and succeeded in them all. THe invincibles crashed out of the Champions League and all.
 
ref was bias, took money from fergie ...

If wenger wanted to win...Lehmann, Hoyte, Traoare, Gilberto and Bentner wouldnt have started...

When AFC returns to OTfor the EPL match - hahaha then we will see THE REAL ARSENAL! Hopefully we wold have won the eague by then to be ablke to do the victory dance on OT on the night.
 
Even though the Invincibles did an incredible feat of staying unbeaten for 49 games, the calss of 99 was better as they had to face tougher oppositions and succeeded in them all. THe invincibles crashed out of the Champions League and all.

Can't compare like that, its different eras and all, football changes.

and Arsenal clearly wants the epl, let's see if they get it, or even if Man Utd can win the FA cup.
 
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