FA Cup Tactical Preview: Man Utd to beat Arsenal and other key battles

Friday

Arsenal v Manchester United

Arsenal were superb in their 2-0 victory over Chelsea last weekend, discovering a diamond 4-4-2 formation that maximised the talents of their squad: Aaron Ramsey filled the Ozil-shaped hole in the number ten space; Granit Xhaka's simplified defensive midfield role kept him disciplined (and meant he could drop into a back three, giving the full-backs freedom to push on); and Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi excelled out wide, allowing Unai Emery to win the midfield battle with four central midfielders on the pitch. As a bonus, both Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could play as strikers, negating their respective inability to contribute creatively. However, Manchester United are a far more varied, direct, and powerful opponent than Chelsea proved to be. The Gunners' return to a back four - coupled with the absence of wingers to provide defensive support to the full-backs - means they will be vulnerable to quick counter-attacks.

Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford are developing a superb relationship under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, a fact best highlighted by their combination for the winning goal at Spurs a fortnight ago. When this high-pressing United team win the ball, the direct route from Pogba to Rashford ought to beat a slow, weakened, and under-staffed Arsenal defence.

Saturday

Manchester City v Burnley 

Burnley are back to their best now following their poor form during Europa League qualification, and after a two week break they will be fit and ready for an aggressive defensive display at the Etihad. This will be a typically organised Burnley performance, defined by minimising space between the lines and forcing opponents to launch crosses into the box.

However, Pep Guardiola has become very adept at dealing with these kinds of scenarios. His City team will be patient on the ball, gradually drawing Burnley out of their shell before quickly switching play to Leroy Sane, who will dart into the channel between right-back and centre-back to attempt a cut-back. This is City's favourite move and it tends to work best against teams expecting to be attacked either through the centre or via crosses.

Sane's individual battle with Matt Lowton should be important, although the 29-year-old right-back will likely be drawn across by City's possession. Consequently the tracking back of right winger Johan Berg Gudmundsson may prove crucial. Ultimately Sane, assisting for a Raheem Sterling tap-in, probably won't be stopped.

Sunday

Crystal Palace v Spurs

Dele Alli's hamstring injury has left Mauricio Pochettino with very few options for this one; he could either start Georges-Kevin Nkoudou in a 4-3-3 or continue with the 3-4-3 used at Fulham, pushing Christian Eriksen into a more advanced role and starting Eric Dier in midfield. Either way, it'll no doubt lead to another awkwardly narrow Spurs display in which Harry Kane's creativity and goalscoring are sorely missed.

Fernando Llorente was dreadful at Fulham, consistently miscontrolling the ball until the Spurs players stopped attempting long passes into the penalty area. Without Kane dropping off and feeding the ball out wide, Spurs become overly narrow, with Eriksen and Erik Lamela dancing harmlessly in the centre of the pitch.

Tottenham's lack of urgency or movement means they will be bunched in the middle, and so the Palace barricade should easily absorb pressure. What's more, Tottenham's positional play will leave Danny Rose and Kieran Trippier with too much to do when the ball goes out wide, running into a two-man line of full-back and winger. Palace should hold firm.

Sunday

Newcastle v Watford 

Watford's 4-2-2-2 formation tends to leave too much space on the flanks during matches in which they dominate possession. The midfielders are expected to drop into winger roles when the ball is lost but fail to do so when the game is one-sided; Roberto Pereyra and Ken Sema begin to roam freely, opening up an opportunity for patient clubs likes Rafa Benitez's Newcastle.

In Newcastle's 1-0 victory over Watford in November Kenedy (set to return from injury this weekend) completed five dribbles and won the set-piece that led to the winning goal. In the reverse fixture, a 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road, Christian Atsu completed five dribbles from the same wing. What's more, Matt Ritchie assisted the Newcastle goal from left-back - a position he will most likely fill on Saturday.

Newcastle will probably target the left flank again, then, a prospect made more enticing by Kiko Femenia's absence through injury.

RECOMMENDED BETS

Man Utd to beat Arsenal at 17/10
Sane to score any time versus Burnley at 10/11
Palace to keep a clean sheet v Spurs at 12/5
Newcastle to beat Watford at 21/10

Source:  betting.betfair.com