Follow all the action as Manchester United host Watford in the FA Cup third round at Old Trafford tonight.
The Red Devils will hope to kickstart their cup campaign in style after suffering a 2-0 defeat by Manchester City in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup in midweek. Before that loss to their bitter rivals, United were in scintillating form with five wins in their previous six outings – the other result being a 2-2 draw at Leicester. They host a Watford team that have struggled to maintain steady form since being relegated from the Premier League. The Hornets are sixth in the Championship and kicked off the New Year with a frustrating defeat at Swansea a week ago.
It will be interesting to see how strong a side Ole Gunnar Solskjaer opts to field against Watford, with the likes of Axel Tuanzebe and Donny van de Beek set to play. The Dutchman signed for United from Ajax in the summer for £35 million and he has struggled to receive any meaningful game time under Solskjaer. He will likely play in an advanced role with the club likely to rest Bruno Fernandes following the talismanic playmaker’s brilliant form in the Premier League. The fixture doesn’t bode well for Watford, who are without a win at Old Trafford in 13 games – a run stretching back to October 1978. Follow all the action live below at the conclusion of Arsenal vs Newcastle:
Independent Football Newsletter
Get the latest football headlines direct to your inbox twice a week
Read our full mailing list consent terms here
Independent Football Newsletter
Get the latest football headlines direct to your inbox twice a week
Read our full mailing list consent terms here
- Ighalo set to leave after teaching United a valuable lesson
- Cleverley delighted by old club’s return to title contention
Arsenal 0 – 0 Newcastle
78 mins: Smith-Rowe gets to the byline on the right side of the box and his chip into the middle is claimed by Dubravka. This game looks like it’s headed to extra time.
Team news – Man Utd vs Watford
After the conclusion of this tie at the Emirates Manchester United face Watford at Old Trafford. The team news has just come out:
Arsenal 0 – 0 Newcastle
72 mins: Almiron is knocked over by Xhaka just outside his own penalty area. Newcastle send the free kick long up the pitch courtesy of Dubravka. Murphy sends a cross into the box and Carroll fouls David Luiz trying to win the ball.
Arsenal 0 – 0 Newcastle
69 mins: A double change now for Arsenal. Willian and Joe Willock are off with Bukayo Saka and Granit Xhaka on.
Jacob Murphy comes on for Newcastle with Emil Krafth taken off. Positive stuff from Steve Bruce.
Arsenal 0 – 0 Newcastle
66 mins: Huge save! Tierney puts a cross in that Clark initially heads away. Willian collects and sends it to Tierney again. This time the cross comes towards the back post and Willock is there to win the header. He heads it into the ground and Dubravka leaps to his left to push the ball wide as it bounces towards the bottom corner.
Arsenal 0 – 0 Newcastle
63 mins: Aubameyang springs the offside trap for Arsenal and takes the ball into the box. He tries to beat Dubravka with a shot to the back post but he’s off target and Newcastle get away with one.
Arsenal 0 – 0 Newcastle
60 mins: Mikel Arteta brings on Emile Smith-Rowe who replaces Reiss Nelson for Arsenal. Newcastle are growing in confidence. Krafth is joining the attacks and putting crosses into the box but unfortunately for the visitors he hasn’t picked out a teammate yet.
Arsenal 0 – 0 Newcastle
57 mins: A Newcastle free kick on the right side of the pitch is played deep into the box. Carroll chests down the ball and hits one on the half-volley. The shot takes a slight deflection but Leno is able to make the save.
Another Newcastle free kick causes problems for Arsenal. It’s whipped in to the far side of the box and Tierney fails to clear his lines. The ball rolls to Hendrick who pulls his effort from the edge of the box wide of goal. Carroll is able to meet the wayward shot and he fires the ball back across the goal and sends it wide of the far post.
Arsenal 0 – 0 Newcastle
54 mins: Arsenal seem determined to shoot from range. They were working the ball nicely up the pitch with Newcastle dropping off. Pepe receives the ball in the middle of the pitch about 30 yards out from goal. He strikes one and pulls it wide to the right of goal.
Arsenal 0 – 0 Newcastle
51 mins: Hendrick is fouled by Willock in Arsenal’s final third. Newcastle float the ball into the box and Carroll gets his head on the ball but he can’t control the direction and it goes wide.
Source: Read Full Article
