The FA Cup returns this weekend and although games are spread across all four days from Friday to Monday, the best viewing of the weekend certainly comes on the opening night. Manchester United travel to The Emirates stadium to take on Arsenal in an all-Premier League battle, and one that is made even more intriguing by the state of both clubs right now.

The past few weeks, Manchester United have turned their season on its head after bringing in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to the club, while Arsenal have been dealt an off-field blow by the news that it is unlikely they will sign anyone during the transfer window.

The only thing splitting these two teams right now in the league is goal difference, and they are tied on 44 points in 5th and 6th. Both will have an eye on the top four, although it will be hard to break into that, with Chelsea three points ahead of them. If you were backing a team to make the top four from outside right now, Manchester United would be the ones after a great start under Solskjaer that has seen them win seven games in a row since his arrival.

Arsenal went on a great run earlier this season, going unbeaten in all competitions for a period of nearly three months but recently they have not been as impressive. Unai Emery is looking to rebuild this team and blood fresh youngsters into it, and while it is expected that they will hit bumps on the road, fans do have certain levels they expect from them.

Who Gets the Manchester United Job this Summer?

One of the biggest jobs in football is up for grabs this summer, when the board at Manchester United decide who will be the man to take them forward. As things stand right now, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is in charge, although his contract is for him to be the caretaker manager until the summer, when a decision will be made.

Solskjaer is one of a number of people that have been spoken about in the media, and the way he has started his time at the club is certainly doing his chances no harm. He has come in and brought the fans back on side almost instantly. They like his style of play, and the fact that he allows his players to attack and express their freedom on the field, something they didn’t have under Jose Mourinho.

On top of this, Solskjaer is continuing to enhance his reputation with the fans, and that could be another very important factor. With everyone behind Solskjaer, from the playing staff to the fans, there is a chance that United could be forced into giving Solskjaer the job, regardless of whether they want to or not. After seeing the affect of the upset when Jose Mourinho was in charge, with fans falling out with the club and players not playing to their full potential, the board will want to avoid that situation again. Even if they don’t believe that Solskjaer is the man to lead them forward, could they have to employ him anyway, to keep everyone happy and on the same page?

If for whatever reason, they go away from Solskjaer then the obvious candidate would be Mauricio Pochettino from Tottenham. He has impressed at both Spurs and Southampton, and perhaps more importantly, he has Premier League experience, which is something that the club see as important. The feeling with Pochettino is that he is happy at Tottenham, but would love to have more funds available to take the team to the next level. While he will have more work to do at United than Spurs in terms of bringing players in, it is highly likely that he would get the funds he needs to take them to the next level.

On top of this, there is also the name of Manchester United, and whether or not anyone can turn that down. While it may be true that Tottenham are in a better position than Manchester United right now, we all know the history associated with United, and is that something that anyone, including Pochettino, can turn down?

If United want to look elsewhere and bring someone new to the Premier League to the club then Zinedine Zidane is the main name that has been mentioned. There is no doubt that Zidane was one of the greatest footballers of his generation, and he is now on a quest to become one of the greatest managers too. He has previously managed Real Madrid, so understands the pressures of working at a big club, something that does give him an advantage over other candidates.

Whoever United go with, it is an extremely important decision, and will shape the future of this football club.

Arsenal vs Manchester United Betting Tips

Back to this FA Cup clash and it looks as though it is going to be a good one. There is a lot to like about what Manchester United have done since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer came on board, and the good old days look as though they are back. This team lacks the quality that others have had in the past, but the fans are back behind them, everyone is happy and United are playing good football.

They come here on the back of seven wins in a row during the Solskjaer reign, and I am backing them to make it eight in a row here. There is nothing to choose between these two teams in the league standings right now, but it is Manchester United that have all the momentum behind them. Arsenal picked up a valuable three points last weekend by beating Chelsea, but aside from that they have not been at their best recently.

Both of these teams are competing for the top four right now, and if United get in it then that would be a huge achievement for Solskjaer based on the position his team were in when he took over. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him target the FA Cup too, there is nothing better than lifting the spirit at a club that winning a trophy, regardless of which one it is.

I’m backing a United victory in this one on Friday night, and a continuation of the good run under their caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

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