Manchester United vs. Arsenal - FA Cup Preview
FA Cup Semi-Final
By Chris O'Brien / David Hobbs
April 2 2004
With the Premiership seemingly out of reach and dreams of European glory wrecked by Porto in February, the F.A Cup is United's last chance of making the 2003/2004 season a successful one. Saturday's showdown at Villa Park Arsenal is our biggest game of the season to date.
| Manchester United vs. Arsenal - FA Cup Preview |
|
With the Premiership seemingly out of reach
and dreams of European glory wrecked by Porto in February, the F.A Cup is
United's last chance of making the 2003/2004 season a successful one.
Saturday's midday showdown at Villa Park against holders Arsenal is our
biggest game of the season to date, with a place at the Millennium Stadium
awaiting the winners.
The 17,000 reds, including the ManUtdWeb team, who managed to avoid getting 'chubbed' and will be at Villa Park on Saturday will all remember the last time the two sides met at Aston Villa's ground. The semi-final of 1999, with THAT Peter Schmeichel save and THAT Ryan Giggs goal will go down as one of the greatest Cup battles, and if we get half the entertainment in the Midlands this time around; we're surely in for a treat. United went on to clinch an incredible Treble that season, but ironically United will be looking for a victory tomorrow to deny Arsenal the same feat, with Arsene Wenger's ambitious not just limited to the domestic scene. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is contemplating resting duo Fredi Ljungberg and Thierry Henry for the big game, keeping the Champions League and Premiership in mind. But the London outfit will definitely be without World-Cup winner Gilberto Silva and Ashley Cole. As previously reported, Ruud van Nistelrooy is a major doubt for the game after picking up a knee injury in the dress-rehearsal game last week. The swelling of the knee has reportedly got bigger and bigger and manager Sir Alex Ferguson has dubbed him as 'a serious doubt'. "We do have plenty of players who can replace him though." he added Frenchman Louis Saha will miss out on the game because he is cup-tied after playing for Fulham in the great cup earlier this year. Diego Forlan is likely to play one of his biggest games for The Red Devils in the absence of Ruud van Nistelrooy. United have been placed at 13/8 to claim victory and progress into the final but Arsenal are 6/4 to take-on either Sunderland or Milwall at Cardiff. Leave your predictions ahead of the match on the ManUtdWeb Messageboard. |
| Contact the Author |