Manchester United vs Arsenal. The FA Cup Quarter-Final.
Old TraffordAttendance74,285.
Monday 9 March 2015 19:54, UK
A place at Wembley awaits the winner as Manchester United host Arsenal in a scintillating FA Cup quarter-final tie.
This is realistically both teams' last chance of silverware this season, with United out of contention on all fronts and Arsenal only hanging on by a thread in the Champions League, where they find themselves 3-1 down after their first leg with Monaco.
Arsenal are through to the FA Cup last eight for the 11th time under Arsene Wenger and have progressed to the semi-final in nine of the previous 10.
The only time they were eliminated was in 2011 against United, who have won nine and lost none of the last 10 matches against Arsenal at Old Trafford.
Team news
Arsenal defender Gabriel has been ruled out with a hamstring injury which is expected to sideline him for up to three weeks.
Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny faces a fitness test following illness after missing the win at QPR, as does defender Nacho Monreal (back) and Mathieu Flamini (hamstring).
Midfielder Jack Wilshere (ankle), Mikel Arteta (ankle), Abou Diaby (calf) and Mathieu Debuchy (shoulder) all continue their recovery.
Manchester United striker Robin van Persie will miss the clash against his old club Arsenal due to his ankle injury.
Jonny Evans also takes a watching brief having been banned by the FA for six matches for spitting at Newcastle's Papiss Cisse.
Left-back Luke Shaw (hamstring) is a doubt.
Stats
Manchester United have kept a clean sheet in each of their last four FA Cup games against Arsenal.
United have won 11 and lost just one of their last 15 matches against Arsenal in all competitions.
Wayne Rooney has scored more goals against Arsenal than any other player in Premier League history (11) and has found the net in all three of his FA Cup appearances against Arsenal (in the 2005 shootout and in normal play in the last two ties).
Arsenal and United have met twice in the final (the Gunners coming out on top both times) and three times in semi-finals (United progressing each time).
Merson's prediction
United are waiting to be on the end of something and I can see them losing two or three nil before the end of the season.
However, they always seem to save something for Arsenal. I remember a couple of seasons ago when Arsenal headed to Old Trafford absolutely flying and United found a way to stop them.
It’s an incredibly tough one to call and I’m going to have to sit on the fence and go for a draw.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 5/1)
Betting
Home advantage sees Manchester United considered Sky Bet’s 11/8 favourites to win on Monday night, with Arsenal 19/10 for the victory and 12/5 to secure a replay back at the Emirates.
Liverpool were installed at the head of the FA Cup outright market following the favourable quarter-final draw, with United and the Gunners drifting out to 5/2 and 3/1 respectively. Rooney and Olivier Giroud are tied at the head of the first goalscorer betting at 5/1 apiece, while Falcao (11/2) and Alexis Sanchez (6/1) follow closely behind.
