Man Utd 1-2 Arsenal: Tactical Analysis
Former Red Devil Danny Welbeck scored the winner that knocked United out of FA Cup, but where did his old club strategically falter last night?
Team Selections
Both sides lined up roughly with similar shapes in variations of the 4-2-3-1. Arsenal went for a slightly more aggressive shape than predicted with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain being selected ahead of Tomas Rosicky and Aaron Ramsey who has recently returned from injury but could only make the Gunners bench. Szczesny and Monreal overcame injury concerns to take their places in the starting XI. Manchester United lined up almost as predicted but Fellaini continued in the side at the expense of Juan Mata who didn't get any game time, Herrera started ahead of Michael Carrick and Luke Shaw passed a late fitness test to start ahead of Phil Jones, which meant Marcos Rojo shifting to centre back. Quite surprisingly, Arsene Wenger decided to utilise Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain In a wide right position which was risky considering that the selection of him or another player in midfield would have guaranteed a superiority of numbers in the middle of the park. As it turns out, this didn't actually matter all too much as Oxlade-Chamberlain enjoys cutting infield anyway as he has stated previously that central midfield is his preferred position. Louis Van Gaal stuck with the 4-2-3-1 that he introduced a few games ago in an attempt to encourage better penetration down the flanks.