FA Cup: Alexis Sanchez will ‘love’ Arsenal return, says Man Utd boss Solskjaer

Alexis Sanchez left Arsenal for Manchester United in January 2018

(Image credit: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

published 25 January 2019

What: FA Cup fourth round
When: Friday 25 January
Where: Emirates Stadium, London
Kick-off time: 7.55pm
TV channel: live on BBC One

Arsenal host Manchester United tonight in the FA Cup and the fourth-round clash will mark Alexis Sanchez’s first return to the Emirates Stadium.

Carabao Cup final: Chelsea vs. Man City early betting odds

The Chilean forward left Arsenal for United last January in a deal that also saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan move to north London.

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Sanchez will play a part in tonight’s cup tie and is expected to receive a “warm” welcome from the Arsenal fans. However, should the Gooner boo-boys target the 30-year-old it will only fire him up even more says United caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

“He’ll be involved,” said Solskjaer. “I think he’ll love it if the crowd turn against him. As a player, pride kicks in and you think ‘I’ll show all of you’.

“He’s been fantastic in training, his attitude has been spot on, so hopefully he’ll enjoy the game.”

Team news

Arsenal boss Unai Emery will be without Hector Bellerin after the Spanish full-back sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Unlike Sanchez, Mkhitaryan may not be fit to face his former team.

United caretaker Solskjaer is expected to rest goalkeeper David de Gea, the BBC reports, with Sergio Romero set to start. Defender Marcos Rojo and midfielder Marouane Fellaini are also out because of injury.

Possible starting XIs

How the teams could line up tonight at the Emirates Stadium, according to the London Evening Standard.

Arsenal possible starting XI (4-1-2-1-2): Leno; Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Koscielny, Kolasinac; Xhaka; Torreira, Guendouzi; Ozil; Lacazette, Aubameyang
Manchester United possible starting XI (4-3-3): Romero; Young, Lindelof, Jones, Shaw; Matic, Herrera, Pogba; Lingard, Rashford, Sanchez