After a weekend of high drama in the Premiership and the Football League, attention swiftly returns to the Champions League this evening with the first of the semi-final second legs as Arsenal look to overturn a 1-0 deficit when Manchester United travel to the Emirates.
The Gunners will need to be much improved from the first leg performance and will hope not to have to rely so heavily on Manuel Almunia in a tie in which they know the concession of one goal will require them to score three. To this end, they will be boosted by the return of Robin Van Persie and Wenger will surely be keen to unleash the Dutchman in the absence of the cup-tied Andrey Arshavin.
Following their win at Middlesbrough at the weekend, a victory which put them one step closer to the title, United will be buoyed by the news that Rio Ferdinand is fit to partner Nemanja Vidic in the centre of defence having recovered from the rib injury he sustained in the first leg. Patrice Evra should also be given the all clear to start at left-back.
Arsene Wenger has been talking up his team’s chances, claiming that the North London side will turn in a ‘magnificent’ performance to overturn United. Whilst they showed they have the attacking prowess to do so against Portsmouth at the weekend, a match in which they had the luxury of resting some key players, Manchester United represent a different prospect entirely and appear to be hitting form at exactly the right time.
Like Arsenal, Sir Alex Ferguson was able to field a somewhat weekend side against Middlesbrough at the weekend and he will be confident that his side is ready to take the game to their rivals. Arsenal’s defence remains weakened through the absence of William Gallas and Gael Clichy, something which United will look to exploit.
A tie which United should have finished off in the first leg is still in the balance however and it will be fascinating to see how the two master tacticians will set their teams out to play. If United score first then the tie is surely over, but if Arsenal were to score early then it could be an altogether closer affair.
Who do you think will make it through to the final in Rome? Let us know what you think.
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I reckon Ferguson will look to attack from the whistle so that United get an early goal and the game will be over before half time. As Arsenal push forward, an already weakened defence could be even more leaky…