Alexis starts! Confirmed Lineups: Man Utd vs Arsenal

Manchester United and Arsenal kick off the fourth round of this season’s FA Cup at the Emirates Stadium this evening.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer heads down to North London having won all seven games as caretaker manager of the Red Devils.

The two teams have been confirmed as:

Manchester United

Sergio Romero; Ashley Young, Eric Bailly, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw, Nemanja Matic, Ander Herrera, Paul Pogba; Jesse Lingard, Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez

Substitutes: Lee Grant, Diogo Dalot, Phil Jones, Fred, Juan Mata, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford

Alexis Sanchez returns from injury to take his place in the starting lineup to face his former club for the first time this evening. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed earlier in the week that there would be a couple of changes from the side that beat Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League last weekend – Sergio Romero replaces David de Gea in goal and Eric Bailly will partner Victor Lindelof in central defence. Romelu Lukaku gets his second start under the Norwegian by replacing Marcus Rashford as our central striker, flanked by Sanchez and Jesse Lingard.

The boss has gone with his favourite central midfield trio as Nemanja Matic sits in front of the back four, partnered by Ander Herrer and Paul Pogba in the middle of the park. Fred and Juan Mata are among the substitutes.

Arsenal

Petr Cech; Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Laurent Koscielny, Sead Kolasinac; Lucas Torreira, Granit Xhaka, Aaron Ramsey; Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alex Iwobi

Substitutes: Bernd Leno, Skodran Mustafi, Nacho Monreal, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Mohamed Elneny, Matteo Guendouzi, Mesut Ozil

The retiring Petr Cech replaces Bernd Leno as Arsenal’s FA Cup goalkeeper. The experienced Czech will be protected by youngster Ainsley Maitland-Niles at right-back, Laurent Koscielny and Sokratis in the middle and the attack-minded Sead Kolasinac at left-back.

Both Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang start for the Gunners who also have Aaron Ramsey as another good attacking option in their starting lineup.

Unai Emery has gone for a very defence-minded bench with Mesut Ozil the only attacking player. The German will be sitting alongside three defenders and two defensive midfielders.