Arsenal vs Man Utd (tactical analysis : Key match ups)

Rio Ferdinand vs Emmanuel Adebayor :

Ferdinand is one of Utd's best defenders, but Adebayor will look to drop deep and pull Ferdinand out of position so the likes of Fabregas, Nasri, and Walcott can get into advanced positions. Arsenal are most likely to start with Adebayor as a lone striker, so expect Vidic and Ferdinand to share the job of marking him.


Kolo Toure vs Wayne Rooney :

Like Adebayor, Rooney will drop deep into positions defined as "the hole" and look to involve the likes of Ronaldo, Scholes, and Giggs in the attacking third. On Saturday, Rooney was deadly when he went wide left, delivering pinpoint crosses to Ronaldo and Berbatov - so Toure will most likely only mark Rooney where and when he enters the central defensive positions in the middle of the 18 yard box. Rooney has caused Arsenal multiple problems in the past because of his movement and ability to find space in and around the box - Toure will have to marshal Rooney to perfection in order to stop this happening again on Wednesday.


Carrick vs Fabregas :

I fully expect Sir Alex to play Michael Carrick and order him to pick up Fabregas when he is in advanced positions. Carrick is a wonderful player - a truly unsung hero in Utd's season - he deserved a PFA nomination. The problem Carrick and Man Utd have is that Fabregas loves to drop deep - just in front of his own back four - and play long balls to Arsenal's attacking players. But if Fabregas plays an advanced role - as he did against Middlesbrough on Sunday to good effect - I think Ferguson will instruct Carrick to pick him up.


Ronaldo vs. Kieran Gibbs /Bacary Sagna:

Ferguson will most likely deploy Ronaldo on the right and tell him to attack Gibbs - who has little first team experience. Ronaldo will probably look to receive the ball from deep positions on the right; with the intention of drawing Gibbs out of position and gaining an advantage this way. Ronaldo could also overlap with Rafael Da Silva - exploiting Gibbs' inexperience about which one to pick up when they are both attacking the right flank. Ronaldo will also swap flanks and will attack Sagna - but he'll get more joy attacking Gibbs.


Theo Walcott vs Patrice Evra:

Evra is arguably the best left back in the league but on Saturday he was caught hopelessly out of position for Tottenham's second goal. I think Wenger will tell Walcott to cut inside as much as possible and try and burst beyond the two Man Utd central defenders. On the counter attack, Ferguson will be wary because of Walcott's pace - look at what he did to liverpool in last season's quarter final. Given this, I think Evra will sit deep and not allow Walcott any joy, but I think Walcott will look to burst through the middle rather than just staying wide right.