Arsenal 1-3 Manchester United
As auditions go, things couldn’t be any better for interim Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
His side may have been on the backfoot at times during this FA Cup tie, but there was no arguing with the result as far as dogged defending and clinical attacking was concerned.
Indeed, as far as intricate attacking football goes, all their goals will take their place among the FA Cup 2019 highlights.
The FA Cup 2019 betting odds always suggested goals in this tie and attacking on both sides, and this proved the case.
Highlights of the game
It should be stressed from the start that Arsenal had moments of misfortune.
To lose one centre back to injury is bad luck. To lose both is misfortune in the extreme.
Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Laurent Koscielny both had to leave the field. There’s no doubt that, coupled with United’s deadly finishing twice inside three minutes (149 seconds to be precise) midway through the first half, the Gunners were left reeling at a time when they had been the better side.
However, SBOBET fans will have seen glimpses of magic moments from a United side displaying attacking confidence as Solskjaer made it eight wins from eight.
Arsenal, fresh from a convincing win over London rivals Chelsea, had started threateningly with Ashley Maitland-Niles and Alex Iwobi among those showing plenty of attacking promise.
Then, after losing Papastathopoulos, who fell accidentally and seemed to twist his ankle, United pounced.
Alexis Sanchez, booed by the home fans on his first return to the Emirates Stadium since leaving 12 months ago, netted superbly from a tight angle after Romelu Lukaku’s deft pass.
Petr Cech, playing his final FA Cup tie before retiring, made the angle as difficult as possible but Sanchez’s finish was world-class.
Almost immediately, Lukaku burst down the right and found Jesse Lingard who kept his composure to roll the ball into the near corner.
He may not have got on the scoresheet but it continued Lukaku’s fine record in the competition – he also has scored 13 goals in his past 15 FA Cup games, including six in eight for United.
The visitors’ failure to cut out a delivery just before the break saw Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pull one back to give Arsenal hope. Had Sergio Romero not made a terrific reflex save to push an Aaron Ramsey header onto the top of the bar within 90 seconds of the restart, Arsenal would have probably had the momentum to go on and win the tie.
Yet the loss of poor Koscielny, injured after accidentally being caught in the face by the full weight of Lukaku’s leg, suggested fate was not with the home side.
Play was stopped for eight minutes while the calming Frenchman received treatment before having to leave the field.
When play resumed, it became a more even contest. After Romero had saved well from Alexandre Lacazette, United sealed the tie of the round on the counter-attack.
Paul Pogba had become more involved in the match in the final 20 minutes and, after Cech parried his shot, substitute Anthony Martial applied the coup de grace to send the vocal away end into raptures.
When they asked for a wave from their Norwegian favourite in the dugout, he duly obliged to set the seal on a memorable night for anyone of a United persuasion.
Gunners one, Ole Gunnar three.
Key statistics
United have won six matches at the Emirates – more than any other visiting side has managed since Arsenal moved there in 2006.
Arsenal have only lost three home games in all competitions this season, winning 13 and drawing three.
United have won all eight matches under Solskjaer, scoring 22 and conceding five.
United have only lost one of their last 15 FA Cup fourth-round ties.
With 10 goals and nine assists, Sanchez has been directly involved in 19 goals in 20 FA Cup appearances during his time at both clubs.
Aubameyang has scored on his Arsenal debut in the Premier League (v Everton), Europa League (v Vorskla Poltava) and now FA Cup.
What’s next?
It’s back to Premier League action for both sides next Tuesday (January 29) – the day the draw for the fifth round of the FA Cup takes place.
United entertain Burnley at Old Trafford, while Arsenal host Cardiff.
They are then in action the following gameweek when United travel to 2016 champions Leicester and Arsenal visit reigning champions Man City.
February also sees both clubs return to European action with Champions League and Europa League ties.
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