Saturday Soccer Spotlight: FA Cup Semifinals

Today marks the first matchup between Arsenal and Manchester United in the quest for 2 separate titles: the FA cup and the EPL title.  These teams will have to play each other in both of these competitions before the end.

Key players:

Without Cesc Fabregas, I believe that Robin van Persie becomes the key for Arsenal.  Manchster United is one team that they haven't been able to score against at will.  And I think that is partially to Manchester's style of play this season.  But Arsenal is going to need to break that streak if they are to advance to the final of the FA Cup and keep their hopes alive for 2 trophies.  van Persie is a fantastic striker, and he's been having a great season.  He's going to need to put injuries and fitness behind him and have a big game.

Vidic was missing from the game against Liverpool, and Manchester showed how much they need him to solidify the center of the defense.  They were in shambles most of the game, and Liverpool made them pay.  Vidic is a force to be reckoned with.  If he can shut down van Persie, then Manchester will be on their way to shutting down that free flowing offense again.  He's done it before, and I expect no less this time.

Key Injuries

It's going to hurt Arsenal a lot since Fabregas isn't their.  He's the undisputed leader of the team, and he's the fulcrum of the pass-you-to-death style of play.  Without him, Arsenal aren't nearly as free-flowing, and they lack the leadership to keep them together.  Against a quality team like Manchester, this could prove vital.

Manchester United is absolutely devastated in the winger position.  They've been without Antonio Valencia for the majority of the season after a ferocious tackle broke his ankle, and Ji Sung Park has been gone for several weeks as well.  Nani has been having a great season, but after a vicious (I wouldn't classify it any other way.  It was Jamie Carragher from Liverpool for crying out loud.  And don't give me any crap about diving.  Did you see that gash?) tackle in the Liverpool game, he will be out for up to a month.  So Manchester is severely lacking in the wide areas of the field.

Prediction:

I was very surprised to see that the betting odds were so highly in favor of Manchester.  Especially after the recent results.  I predict that Manchester will make this game very compact without their wingers, and focus on shutting down the passing game of Gunners.  Vidic will be out to prove a point, and Manchester will pitch a shutout.  The question becomes, "can they score themselves and prevent a replay away from home?"  I think Chicharito Hernandez will be the difference in that category. Whether he starts or comes in off the bench, the boy always manages to make an impact.

Manchester 1-0 Arsenal

Saturday Soccer Spotlight: Arsenal Fail to Take Advantage

So, It's been an interesting week for Arsenal.  Desperately in need of some sort of trophy this season, they lost their first chance in the Carling Cup final to a way overmatched Birmingham City.  At that point I thought they would be too demoralized to finish off any of their trophy chances.  Away to Barcelona in the Champions' league will prove to be too much for them.  And in the FA cup and Premier League, they have to go through Manchester United.  But then Manchester lost to Chelsea, and I thought that they would have new hope with the chance to move within one point of Manchester with 10 games to go.

And that brings us to today's game against middle-of-the-pack Sunderland.  A week ago I mentioned that losing Fabregas could potentially hurt them, but that Sunderland shouldn't really pose a threat.  Especially without Welbeck (on loan from Manchester United), who is their biggest attacking option.  But I didn't realize that they wold be without van Persie as well, who has absolutely been on fire lately. 

Without those 2, Arsenal didn't have any of their normal fluidity in the attack.  Nikolas Bendtner may be the self-proclaimed best attacker in the world, but he had little impact on this game.  Sure, the Gunners had the better possession and the advantage in shots, but because of their style of play, that is almost always the case.  In the end, they didn't trouble the defense and the goalkeeper enough to take the win.

Once again Arsenal proved to me that they don't have the experience or the depth to win the Premier League.  Without one or two of their star players they can't even beat Sunderland.  I must say that after Manchester United unjustly lost to Chelsea, I was worried about the title race.  But now, I feel like Manchester's character is stronger than Arsenal's; and that will be the difference.