I have a funny feeling that this game will match the hype, two great footballing teams will give their all but I hope that Arsenal’s home advantage and desire will come out tonight

The countdown is almost over, Arsenal face their biggest match of the season at 7.45pm tonight. I am not quite sure if I will be able to focus on anything else during the day today. It was the first thing I thought about when I woke up this morning (apart from thinking about going back to bed again) and those thoughts have not left my mind until now.

We will have to produce one of the best performances from this new squad to get through to the final, can we do that? We certainly have the ability to do it, it depends on attitude, confidence and luck. I am just hoping that we can tick all those boxes.

It certainly will not be easy, having to beat a Manchester United side by two clear goals is never an easy task especially when away goals count so much. They will keep the same shape as they had in the first leg, Ronaldo on the right and Rooney on the left with Carrick, Anderson and Fletcher in the middle.

I have been listening to Arsene Wenger’s comments about 4-4-2 working so well at Portsmouth and everyone assumes that he will be playing that way tonight, I also thought that but I have changed my mind. Arsene did not say that he will play that formation, he said he will play with two strikers, so it could mean that Van Persie could play wide left again as he did against Chelsea in the FA Cup semi final.

Samir Nasri has played in center midfield for the last two games and Cesc Fabregas has occupied link behind the front man. This is the team I will predict that Wenger will play. I do not remember a big game against a good team where he has gone 4-4-2 especially when the opposition will have 5 across midfield.

I expect Van Persie to join Adebayor when we are attacking but when they have the ball he will drift back out wide to keep the shape.

I would rather see our side line up [below]

When we do not have the ball, Van Persie can jog back and help the central midfielders out, it may not be his game but at least he would put a foot in and put United off their game, more importantly it would keep our shape. Personally I think Nasri could be a fantastic central midfield player but only if we have someone like Arshavin playing on the left to balance the side. Our left wing almost becomes redundant when Van Persie is played there because it takes away from his game and he takes part of our play away from the left.

Even with the side looking a tad lopsided (if Arsene does play that way) I still expect our players to have enough fire in their belly to beat Manchester United tonight. It is the moment of truth, these young players are hungry and want a final more than anything.

As good as Manchester United can be going forward they can be hurt defensively. Not enough teams put Vidic and Ferdinand under pressure. When they arrived at the Emirates earlier in the season Bendtner ran Ferdinand and Vidic all over the place, beat them in the air time and time again and they will be under huge pressure tonight.

After the first leg, I would give a more free role to pull his followers out of position. He was doubled up, sometimes tripled up at Old Trafford, movement, interchange and early passes could leave gaps in the Manchester United back four.

Mean Lean’s Predicted Line Up

Mean Lean’s Match Prediction

I have a funny feeling that this game will match the hype, two great footballing teams will give their all but I hope that Arsenal’s home advantage and desire will come out tonight. Arsenal need to score, Manchester will want an away goal so I expect plenty of goals over the course of the game.

The Arsenal supporters will be so important tonight, in games like this any extra percent can make a huge difference. So I urge all those who are filling the Emirates stadium to roar the team on. Those who usually sit and observe, take down the barriers and cheer the players on. It could be the difference between Arsenal in the final or an early exit.

That is enough from me for now, but don’t forget to come back for post match talk after the final whistle. This is our time, come on you Arsenal.

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