Arsenal host Manchester United this weekend for a huge FA Cup third round tie, live on talkSPORT.
The Gunners and Red Devils have both won this iconic competition multiple times, but for one, the journey ends here.
United won this tournament last year by beating Man City in the final but the holders could crash out immediately.
It’s a big match for both sides, given Arsenal are without a major trophy since winning the FA Cup in Mikel Arteta‘s first season and Ruben Amorim would love to get some silverware.
Amroim’s side head to the Emirates off the back of an excellent draw against Liverpool at Anfield, in which his side grabbed a point thanks to Amad Diallo.
Meanwhile, the Gunners’ unbeaten home record this season came to an end on Tuesday as Newcastle claimed a 2-0 win in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
Arsenal vs Manchester United: All the ball’s fault
Following the defeat to the Toon, Arteta made a bizarre claim that the Carabao Cup ball is different to the Premier League one.
He seemed to suggest that it was harder to control than the one used in the top-flight.
Of course, Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon seemed to have no problems with it as they both scored.
But it was an odd claim from Arteta, who is known for being massive on details.
During the Amazon Prime series ‘All or Nothing: Arsenal’, ahead of a game at Anfield, Arteta deployed speakers at the training ground and had them blaring out ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’.
This was an attempt to re-create the atmosphere at Liverpool’s home ground.
And, while on a team meal out in the summer, Arteta hired pickpockets to rob his players to teach them a lesson about being switched on at all times.
So, it’s hard to believe he wasn’t prepared with the Carabao Cup ball.
- This is the 16th different FA Cup tie (excluding replays/second legs) between Arsenal and Manchester United, the second most in the competition’s history after Everton vs Liverpool (19).
- This is the first meeting between Arsenal and Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup. It will be the seventh different fixture in the current format of the competition (since 1925-26) to have been played in each of the six rounds available to top-flight clubs after Arsenal vs Chelsea, Chelsea vs Liverpool, Chelsea vs Man Utd, Chelsea vs Tottenham, Liverpool vs Man Utd and Man Utd vs Southampton.
Arsenal vs Manchester United: Team news
Arsenal are starting to get a few players back from injury.
Raheem Sterling returned to the bench on Tuesday, while Kai Havertz recovered from illness to lead the line.
However, Ethan Nwaneri has joined Bukayo Saka on the sidelines, leaving the Gunners short on attacking options.
Ben White is edging closer to a return, but this is likely to come too soon for him.
However, with games coming thick and fast, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Riccardo Calafiori, Jorginho and Gabriel Jesus could be in line for starts.
For United, Marcus Rashford missed the game at Anfield with illness, so it remains to be seen if he recovers.
Luke Shaw remains out, and Mason Mount is also doubtful.
Amorim appears to be finding his best team, so don’t expect too many changes.
- Arsenal have eliminated the holders of the FA Cup on each of the last six occasions they’ve faced them, most recently beating Manchester City 2-0 in the 2019-20 semi-final. However, Manchester United have won three of their last four FA Cup games against the Gunners, including their only previous meeting at the Emirates Stadium in the competition (3-1 in January 2019).
- Manchester United have eliminated Arsenal from the FA Cup more than any other side in the competition’s history (8), while the Gunners have knocked out the Red Devils more than any other team (7).
Arsenal vs Man United: What has been said?
After producing their best display since Amorim took charge, the United manager praised his players for showing a different side to them.
He said: “I want to see my team play so much better, but I think the most important thing to address today is the mentality, that is the key for everything.
“Today, we were a different team not because of the system and not because of a technical aspect of the game.
“We faced the competition in the way we are supposed to face every day. Training and match, it doesn’t matter, we need to face every day like that.”
Arsenal vs Man United: talkSPORT coverage
This FA Cup third-round tie is set to take place on Sunday, January 12.
Kick-off at the Emirates is scheduled for 3pm.
talkSPORT will have live and exclusive commentary of the match, with Hugh Woozencroft serving as your presenter.
Commentary will come from Joe Shennan and former England striker Darren Bent.
talkSPORT.com will also have all the reaction from north London.
To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.