Sir Alex Ferguson is predicting a "very tight encounter" as Manchester United prepare to meet English rivals Arsenal in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League at Old Trafford, while his opposite number Arsène Wenger insists it will be "a great opportunity for us''.

  Ferguson was spotted at the Emirates on Sunday where he went to observe Arsenal's game against Boro. Serious business, huh? Manchester United's play in the UCL this season has been less than satisfactory, but they've gotten this far and thus, play should only get better from here.
  Sir Alex has got faith in his side getting the better of long time rivals Arsenal.  .  .this was further boosted on Saturday after the 5-2 win over Spurs. Hopefully this could signal the end of a spell of wasted chances during games, and slim victories.
Ferguson could play all 3 of his strikers like he did on Saturday - Rooney, Berbatov, Tevez - and together with Ronaldo, that could be a deadly foursome. With his team having the home advantage now, putting in as many goals as possible will not be a bad idea. Not likely that he will start all 3 strikers though.  .  .
  Defenders Gary Neville and Johnny Evans are still out, but Ferguson has got options of Ferdinand, Vidic, Rafael, Evra, O'Shea, and possibly Wes Brown, who is fresh from injury. O'Shea has got UCL experience over Rafael, but Rafael's speed and agility will be better suited to Arsene's younger, equally agile squad. Nasri just might run circles around O'Shea.  VDS is a UCL veteran, but who is perfect? He has got his own work to do though.
  Experience-wise, Sir Alex Ferguson's side trumps Wenger's. Remains to be seen if the trumping will hold for the other aspects of the game.

  Arsenal could see their defence boosted by the return of goalkeeper Manuel Almunia and Johan Djourou this weekend - but the Gunners will head into the Champions League semi-final clash against Manchester United without leading scorer Robin van Persie (groin injury).  .  .also without Andrei Arshavin, who is ineligible for the Champions league for the remainder of the season.
  With the UCL being the only trophy Arsenal have got left to fight for, they will give this game their all.
  Emmanuel Adebayor could be in the starting line-up, possibly with Nicklas Bendtner for the attack. Wenger is also considering playing Cesc Fabregas in a more forward role, instead of deep in the MF. Might work, after all the captain got two goals against Boro on Sunday. With Nasri, Vela and Theo Walcott available, United cannot afford to rest easy for a minute.
Besides, whenever these two meet in the EPL, Arsenal always prove tough to beat.  .  .sometimes too tough. The 4-4 thriller against Liverpool at Anfield should leave no one in doubt about Arsenal's capability, Arshavin or no Arshavin.
  Hopefully Almunia is fully fit to keep the goal mouth sealed up, and, most fans view the absence of Mikel Silvestre as a blessing. Time will tell.

  These two should give us yet another English thriller to rave about. Miss not!!

A very close call
Arsenal is becoming an albatross for Man U
But this is a tie that experience may just nick it!!

A tight match indeed but United's quality will give United the edge. A 2 goal advantage United. 3-1,4-2 et al.

I see manure's UCL dreams fading into oblivion.

_{Ade and Fab4 shooting the mancs between the eyes}

i'm neither a fan of both sides but man u will definetly chew arsenal just like i chew meat.

Hope you wont choke on your meat _joking

UTD win 4 sure. . . . . . home & away!

Up Gunners.

i'm neither a fan of both sides but man u will definetly chew arsenal just like i chew meat.

Hope you wont choke on your meat joking

nah Meldrick won't choke his teeth'll just fall off _{cos chewing on Arsenal's like chewing on a rock}

Man u 3 Arsenal 0.
Cant wait to c Ron disgrace Gibbs.

Man u 3 Arsenal 0.
Cant wait to c Ron disgrace Gibbs.

when was the last time he did well against an arsenal left back <sub>or any arsenal defender?

and the manc dreams fade into oblivion</sub>

when was the last time he did well against an arsenal left back or any arsenal defender?

ol'boi stop chatting dust
when CR7 ran rings around Cashley cow, what club was he playing for?
dundee UTD?

na wa o

tkb417:



when CR7 ran rings around Cashley cow, what club was he playing for?
dundee UTD?

no, not dundee utd, he was playing 4 BOLLOCKS FC. poor Ashly!!!

@ post

this is too close to call! Why and how so? English affair is not that easy to predict. but arsenal Fc has got the slight advantage in this encounter, since they are playing away first. but then united has proved they can score goals, evident in their last game with spurs Arsenals london Rivals. too cloase to call. but arsenal has got the slight edge here!

HEAD TO HEAD SINCE 1894

TEAM                                   P         W       D         L               Pts

Manchester united               204     82       25       77           271

Arsenal                                204      77      25       82             256


A century of Rivalry from 1894 - 2009   - and they will meet three times before the end of this season!who among this two great clubs will prevail this season (in the champions leafue) only time will tell!! i strongly tip Arsenal to make it to the finals in Rome

I've got spare tickets to the Arsenal vs Chelsea Game at the Emirates Stadium on May 10th 2009.

The seats are in Area 25 Lower Tier.

If you're in need of one, talk to me.

Till then,

I really can't wait for us to get past these numbskulls _{neccessary irritation} and get our pound of flesh against barca in rome. UCL trophy here we come

this game'll be tough but not as tough as Barca in the final.

Arsenal will carry the day,



shame to man u fan,



GUNNERS TILL I DIE

@KUNLE, we go ponder till Jesus come.




GUNNERS FOR LIFE

ITS GOIN 2be a DIFFICULT tie but arsenal would be more relaxed because they r away. Truly its goin 2be very tense

In as much as its obvious this match is unpredictable, I really wish my team wins
GUNNERS 4 LIFE!

Arsenal 2 : 1 Manchester

Chelsea and Barca drew so lets see what will happen today

This is a match that is unpredictable, but i think the odds are very much in MAN U's favour.
I don't think Arsenal's going to be relaxed since they are away cus if they try that, then the goals are just going to keep coming,
To make matters worse, when MAN U win at home, then they're only going to replicate what they did in Porto, beat them at home. Something they'll never think wuld happen.
If it were to be MAN U and BARCA, i'd say only time will tell since we all saw what happened btw Chelsea and Barca.
No one ever thought it'd be a draw, but then it did.

So for those that say GUNNERS FOR LIFE, lets hope they have ammunition in them guns, cus from what i heard from a Nairalander, that gun they brandish on their logo is nothing but a _{water gun}.
Frankly, i don't see how water's gonna kill the Red Devils.
Just like every thing we have to wait for, lets keep our fingers crossed, toes criss-crossed, posts checked, and information double-checked,

That Mukina2 Vs Man U.
Mukina where are u

Dr. Lorenz:

This is a match that is unpredictable, but i think the odds are very much in MAN U's favour.
I don't think Arsenal's going to be relaxed since they are away cus if they try that, then the goals are just going to keep coming,
To make matters worse, when MAN U win at home, then they're only going to replicate what they did in Porto, beat them at home. Something they'll never think wuld happen.
If it were to be MAN U and BARCA, i'd say only time will tell since we all saw what happened btw Chelsea and Barca.
No one ever thought it'd be a draw, but then it did.

So for those that say GUNNERS FOR LIFE, lets hope they have ammunition in them guns, cus from what i heard from a Nairalander, that gun they brandish on their logo is nothing but a _{water gun}.
Frankly, i don't see how water's gonna kill the Red Devils.
Just like every thing we have to wait for, lets keep our fingers crossed, toes criss-crossed, posts checked, and information double-checked,

seriously it is holy water we will use for this devils,

Another goalless draw

arsenal fans are just deceiving themselves, thinking they can win against the almighty united, they better wake up from their slumber. 4-0 first leg, united with the advantage.
no hating please.

Super tight but man u get upper hand