Arsenal v Manchester United- Preview and possible lineups

TEAM NEWS:

Arsenal:

After recording a vital win over Chelsea in the race for fourth place in the Premier League this past weekend, Unai Emery's side will have to switch focus, to their only clear opportunity at grasping domestic silverware this season. 

However the home side will have to look to come through a 'Clash of the Titans' tie with Manchester United without a host of key faces. Midfielder Henrikh Mhiktaryan has returned to training but will not be fully fit in time to feature. Meanwhile full back Hector Bellerin is unavailable, after suffering a season ending injury, an Anterior Cruciate Ligament tear, against Chelsea on Saturday. Likewise, fellow long term absentee Rob Holding is also unavailable.

Further forward, there could be a return for playmaker Mesut Ozil; the German has fallen out of favour since the arrival of boss Emery to the Emirates, but this could be the perfect chance to hand him some game time.

Manchester United: 

The visitors also enter this match at the very peak of their powers, after adding to their unbeaten start under interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer away to Tottenham last weekend. 

Unlike his opposite number, the Norwegian hinted that he will heavily rotate his side for the crunch tie with Arsenal. In particular, misfiring forwards Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku are likely to be handed starts, with the likes of Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford being rested, after playing almost every minute of Solskjaer's fledgling Old Trafford tenure. Spaniard Juan Mata could also be brought back into the fold, after being overlooked as of late.

In terms of potential absentees for the clash, defenders Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo and Chris Smalling will need to pass late fitness tests to be involved. Midfielder Maroune Fellaini is definitely ruled out of the game, as he looks to recover from a calf injury sustained last week. 

PRE-MATCH MUSINGS...

Emery on challenging tie with resurgent United: 

" I was watching their last matches and and each player has a lot of confidence, with big performances, and now they are very dangerous. For us, it’s good because it’s a very big test for us in this competition. "

"Manchester United and us have played 20 finals in the FA Cup, and we’ve won 13 and they’ve won 12. For this competition, it’s the best match to play. We are looking forward to playing this match on Friday because it’s at our stadium, the Emirates, in front of our supporters."

Solskjaer on football management : 

"I love football. I love working in football. And if you want to work in football this is the place to be."

FORM GUIDE:

DID YOU KNOW?

In the three previous ties that Arsenal have triumped over United, they have gone on to win the FA Cup at the end of the season. (2003, 2005, 2015)

United have only lost one of their last 14 FA Cup fourth round, against Liverpool in 2011-12.

Arsenal have won 12 of their last 13 FA Cup ties against top flight opposition; their only defeat came against Watford in 2015-16. 

POSSIBLE LINEUPS:

Arsenal: Cech; Lichsteiner, Mustafi, Sokratis, Monreal; Guendouzi, Xhaka; Willock, Ozil, Iwobi; Lacazette.

Manchester United: De Gea; Young, Bailly, Lindelof, Shaw; Herrera, Matic, Pogba; Mata, Lukaku, Alexis.