Arsenal vs Man Utd preview: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer going for eight in a row

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be looking to make it eight from eight when Manchester United visit Arsenal in a tasty FA Cup fourth-round clash on Friday (kick-off 7.55pm).

Friday's match is the most eye-catching fixture of the fourth round and a chance for Solskjaer to get the one over Arsenal again.

Sir Alex Ferguson's United and the Gunners enjoyed an intense rivalry during the striker's time at the club, with the FA Cup semi-final win on the way to the 1999 treble particularly memorable.

"The semi-final in 99 is such an important game," Solskjaer said of the match remembered for Ryan Giggs' stunning solo goal.

"When Peter [Schmeichel] saves that pen from Dennis Bergkamp, that gives us the advantage and we win the treble.

"If Bergkamp had have scored, they'd have won the double. That's just how small the margins are, and I think that's the standout for me.

"I was substituted so I watched Giggsy's goal from the sidelines and what a goal that was.

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"I think that was the one highlight in the FA Cup, apart from walking out on the pitch at Wembley in 99."

Arsenal boss Unai Emery oversaw a 2-2 draw with United at Old Trafford in December but feels the test that awaits his side this weekend will be a different one now Solskjaer is in charge.

He said: "It's the same players but they're playing with a big performance now. I was watching their last matches 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."

Team news

Alexis Sanchez will feature against his former club after recovering from an injury sustained in the 2-0 win over Reading in the last round of the competition.

Marouane Fellaini, Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo were all absent for last weekend's victory over Brighton at Old Trafford - and those three remained sidelined.

Former United players Danny Welbeck (ankle) and Henrikh Mkhitaryan (foot) have both been ruled out of the clash for the Gunners.

Hector Bellerin's injury (knee) that has ruled him out for the season should see Ainsley Maitland-Niles start at right-back.

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Opta stats

• There have been 14 previous FA Cup ties between Arsenal and Man Utd, eliminating each other seven times apiece (including final victories). Neither side have been knocked out by another more often in the competition's history.
• This is only the third time Arsenal have hosted Man Utd in the FA Cup - they've won the previous two matches, winning 5-0 in January 1937 and 2-1 in February 1988.
• Arsenal have gone on to win the FA Cup in the previous three seasons they've knocked out Manchester United - 2002-03 in the fifth round, 2004-05 in the final and 2014-15 in the quarter-final.
• Manchester United have only lost one of their last 14 FA Cup fourth round ties, losing against Liverpool in 2011-12.
• Arsenal have won 12 of their last 13 FA Cup matches against fellow Premier League sides (L1), with their defeat in that time coming at home against Watford in 2015-16.
• Man Utd's Juan Mata has been involved in 11 goals in 10 FA Cup starts against Premier League opposition (3 goals, 8 assists).
• There has been a red card awarded in five of the last eight FA Cup games between Arsenal and Man Utd - three for Arsenal (Nelson Vivas in April 1999, Jose Reyes in May 2005, Emmanuel Eboue in February 2008) and two for Man Utd (Roy Keane in April 1999, Angel Di Maria in March 2015).

Merson's prediction

What a game! Arsenal are like a bag of Revels though.

This is a big game for both teams - both are likely to have a real go and have winnable fixtures in midweek so are not going to drop their star players for this one - it will be embarrassing if they do. Defensively both teams are poor but excellent going forward. I think United will just edge a cracker.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-3 (28/1 with Sky Bet)

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