Martin Keown has tipped Manchester United’s Alexis Sanchez as the one to rain on Arsenal’s FA Cup parade.
United travel to the Emirates to face Arsenal in the FA Cup fourth round, with the clash, a thriller in the offing.
Sanchez returns to his former club, with United buoyed by a seven-game winning run, he is keen to make an impact at the Emirates.
Ex-Arsenal defender Keown told the Daily Mail of the threat posed by a man who has endured a difficult time since moving to Old Trafford in January 2018: “Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been waiting for the perfect moment to re-introduce Alexis Sanchez.
“What better opportunity for the forward to relaunch his Manchester United career than by going back to his old club and knocking them out of the FA Cup?
“Not only will he be desperate to prove a point to the Arsenal fans, but Sanchez gets a real buzz from playing in this competition.
“He has scored in two FA Cup final victories with Arsenal and found the net in three semi-finals — including for United against Tottenham last season.
“He could cause Arsenal serious problems down their left flank. Sead Kolasinac plays as more of a wing-back than a defender, often leaving gaping holes behind him.
“Those are the kind of spaces Sanchez will be looking to exploit to destroy Arsenal’s FA Cup dream. This is a player who needs the love of his manager.
“Solskjaer has been talking him up in recent weeks as if readying him for this huge clash at the Emirates.”
He added: “Friday night will be a stern examination of both sets of defenders. Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are as good as any strike partnership in the Premier League.
“United can threaten Arsenal’s centre-backs with their pace, too. Sokratis is quicker than he is given credit for, but has a habit of getting the wrong side of his opponent and fishing for the ball.
“Both sides have kept just four clean sheets in their 23 Premier League games, so this could well be a high-scoring game.
“I’m hoping for a thrilling contest that ends 3-2… and I believe Arsenal’s firepower will be enough to inflict a first defeat on Solskjaer.”
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