FA Cup preview: Big guns clash for semi spot

Manchester United host Arsenal in the FA Cup on Saturday with both teams searching for a lift after disappointing results.

United remain top of the Premier League despite losing to arch-rivals Liverpool and reigning champions Chelsea in recent matches.

Their lead has been cut to three points and second-placed Arsenal have an all-important game in hand.

Taking into account their 2-1 defeat away to Wolves on February 5, United have lost three of their last five Premier League matches – their worst run of league form since 2004.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson imposed a media blackout following the 3-1 loss to Liverpool last Sunday, but he has since broken his silence to admit the team were comprehensively outplayed at Anfield.

He will be looking for a significant improvement in the quarter-final against long-term enemies Arsenal at Old Trafford.

Sunday’s visitors to Manchester have arguably suffered even more than their hosts.

Arsenal lost the Carling Cup in a shock 2-1 defeat to Birmingham on February 27 and followed it up with a frustrating 0-0 draw at home to Sunderland in the Premier League, but there was worse to come.

Arsenal were dumped out of the Champions League on Tuesday in a 3-1 loss at Barcelona’s Camp Nou, the second time in two years the north London side have exited Europe’s elite competition at the hands of the Catalan outfit.

With both teams hurting significantly and the small matter of the league title likely to be decided between them, Saturday’s FA Cup clash shapes as one of the biggest matches of the season.

United have a lengthy injury list to contend with.

Attacking midfielder Nani is out of action following a deep gash suffered in the defeat to Liverpool.

He is joined on the sidelines by Anderson, Michael Owen, Park Ji-Sung, Owen Hargreaves, Johnny Evans, Rio Ferdinand and Antonio Valencia.

Arsenal also have a number of absentees with goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny suffering a dislocated thumb against Barca, while fellow shot-stopper Lukasz Fabianski is also out.

Alex Song and Theo Walcott are in doubt, while Thomas Vermaelen continues to miss out with a season-long Achilles complaint.

In Saturday’s other quarter-final, Carling Cup winners Birmingham will try to keep their quest for more silverware alive when they welcome Bolton to St Andrews.

Birmingham drew 1-1 with Everton on Wednesday in their most recent league game, and have struggled for points in recent weeks to sit in 17th place – with only goal difference keeping them clear of the drop zone.

Manager Alex McLeish has concerns over the fitness of Barry Ferguson, Craig Gardner, Alexander Hleb, Kevin Fahey, Scott Dann and David Bentley – who limped off after only nine minutes of the Everton game.

Bolton, by contrast, are in seventh place and scored a thrilling 3-2 win over Aston Villa in their most recent league game to ensure they head into the quarter-final tie full of confidence.