Champions League Semi Final 2nd Leg Preview Arsenal v Manchester United (agg. 0-1)Manchester United have been boosted by the news that both Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra are available for Tuesday's Champions League semi-final clash with Arsenal. Scans have shown that the rib injury picked up Ferdinand was neither a crack nor a break and he was able to complete training on Monday. Evra was substituted at The Riverside after a slight ankle knock, but Ferguson has confirmed that he should be fit to face the Gunners. Should Evra fail a fitness test tomorrow, Ferguson has the option of moving first-leg goalscorer John O'Shea to left-back, with Rafael or Gary Neville taking his place at right-back. Jonny Evans, who replaced Ferdinand late on against Arsenal, would be another alternative.
The red devils of course make the trip to the Emirates with a one goal advantage but it seems unlikely that they intend to just sit back and preserve this lead. The experienced Ryan Giggs has confirmed that the club intends to play an attacking game. “We have to go down to London and play like we did in the first game [last Wednesday],” he said. “We’ll have no problems then.” Obviously because Arsenal failed to score at Old Trafford, if United get an away goal in London, Arsenal would have to score three times to progress.
This would of course not be impossible for the Gunners, who are more than capable of creating strong scoring chances. In Arsenal’s recent outing at Anfield, they scored 4 goals; however Arshavin, the player responsible for hitting the net on each occasion, will not be on the pitch on Tuesday as he is cup tied. Van Persie is however likely to start, which is real boost for Arsenal, and Fabregas, Adebayor and Walcott are also available.
It is however in defence that Arsenal is likely to have the most problems. The 4 goals from Arshavin at Anfield were effectively cancelled out by conceding 4 goals. Gael Clichy and William Gallas are both injured and the Gooners will miss their experience, although Manuel Almunia and Kieran Gibb played excellently last week at Old Trafford. Wenger will also be relying heavily on the experienced Kolo Toure.
The Arsenal captain, Cesc Fabregas, refuses to let the absences from Arsenal’s back line spoil his optimism. “It’s 1-0, we are not talking about 4-0 here. In the Champions League, anything can happen. At home we know we are very strong. We will have our fans behind us - they will be amazing I am sure of that. We just have to play our game, be confident we can do it because I know we can do it. Let's focus on our game, be positive and go for it.” Fabregas is also determined to repay the belief shown in him when Arsene Wenger brought him to London at 16 and has called on all his team-mates, many of whom have also been nurtured by the club since a young age, to re-pay Arsenal’s investment by taking the club to the final in Rome.
Arsenal fans and players will also be lifted by the fact that Wenger has confirmed his future will be at Arsenal and not Real Madrid as some have suggested, despite his obvious frustration that Arsenal have not won a trophy for 3 seasons. "I believe Arsenal is my club because it is my club, it is the only club," said the Frenchman this week.
My personal belief is that although Arsenal have shown real improvements in the latter half of the season and that the squad they currently have available is full of exciting new talent which will challenge more strongly for the Premiership next season, their defensive frailties will leave them just too exposed when faced with a team of the calibre of Manchester United. However Arsenal at their attacking best will give the red devils a real contest, so tomorrow’s semi is looking like a real little beauty!!