I expect if Gibbs is fit he’ll play, if he isn’t but Silvestre is then Mikael will start at left back, and if they both don’t make it then Sagna will move to left back and Eboue will continue at right back

Our top four status is as good as secured now, with a ten point lead with only twelve points left to play for thanks to a relaxing afternoon’s work against Middlesbrough, and now all our focus must go on this Champions League semi final against Manchester United. Having cocked up the chance of an FA Cup final against Everton, this is now our sole chance of silverware, and to win it we’ll need to get past a United side fresh off the back of a morale boosting comeback, and Barcelona or Chelsea. Our best chance of progressing to the final will be to at the very least score in this first leg. I can’t see past United scoring at least once in each leg, so we’re going to need to be clinical in attack. Silvestre is ruled out of this game, so any ideas of using his experience at left back to combat Ronaldo have gone out the window, and it will now be nineteen year old Kieran Gibbs going one on one with 2008’s World Player of the Year. Unless Sagna were to start at left back with Eboue at right back. Either way I don’t see it being easy viewing.

We’ve lost our last two games at Old Trafford, and lost five of the last six. We’ve only ever won there four times under Arsene, in twelve and a half years. Our full record at Old Trafford in all competitions is four wins, three draws and eight losses. Head to head between Ferguson and Wenger, in all competitions at all venues between the two sides, it currently stands at fifteen wins for Arsene, fourteen wins for Sir Alex and eight draws. Since the beginning of the Premiership, in cup competitions, they’ve knocked us out of four cups and we’ve knocked them out of three, but they’ve knocked us out at the semi final stage of competitions twice in recent history. We’ve got a much better record in European semi finals throughout our history. We’ve won all six of the six ties we’ve played at this stage of Euro competition, and hopefully we can continue that tradition. In comparison, United have lost nine of thirteen semi finals in European competition. A poor omen ahead of this game is that United have never been knocked out of Europe by English opposition, whereas we have never progressed past an English team in Europe.

Team News

Silvestre picked up a back injury against Middlesbrough and may not be fit to start, meaning Djourou could return to the starting line up at centre back. Gibbs has been carrying a groin problem for a few games and he’ll face a late fitness test. I expect if Gibbs is fit he’ll play, if he isn’t but Silvestre is then Mikael will start at left back, and if they both don’t make it then Sagna will move to left back and Eboue will continue at right back. Lots for Arsene to ponder. Van Persie and Clichy have a chance of making the second leg. Arshavin’s ineligible but Adebayor will probably return in place of Bendtner.

I expect we’ll employ a similar formation to the one used against Villarreal in the quarter final, with Nasri and Walcott supporting Adebayor with a three man midfield behind them. With Denilson playing the full ninety against Middlesbrough, given that he’s played more games than anyone in our squad this season, I’d guess that’s an indication that he won’t start tonight, Song/Cesc/Diaby is probably a more balanced midfield anyway.

Subs: Fabianski, Eboue, Denilson, Ramsey, Vela, Eduardo, Bendtner.

They have no current injury concerns that affect their first team, Owen Hargreaves is out long term and isn’t expected back until late May. Gary Neville is out injured for a couple of weeks but they have Young Player of the Year nominee Rafael Da Silva, John O’Shea or Wes Brown who is available again after injury, who could slot in at right back. We should expect to see their first choice team. Whoever that is, I’m not entirely sure who of Giggs, Park and Nani is likely to start opposite Ronaldo.