For the second time in two weeks, Arsenal and Manchester United square off. This time the stakes are higher, as a place in the League Cup final and a shot at silverware is up for grabs.
The two sides met at the beginning of the month, starting 2026 off with the goalless draw between the teams in the league this season as United survived a late onslaught following a Jayde Reviere red-card to hold on to a point.
Both teams rebounded from that game with victories in the following FA Cup ties. Arsenal were 2-0 victors over fellow WSL outfit Aston Villa, while Manchester United avoided an upset by thrashing Burnley 5-0 to advance to the fifth round.
This tie needs a winner on the night, with extra-time and penalties on offer if required, meaning that we will eventually see the deadlock broken. Will either side be able to learn from that match to gather the initiative and advance to the final?
Arsenal controlled the recent meeting between the sides. According to Fotmob data, the hosts enjoyed 64% possession and created 2.80 xG from 25 shots.
However, their inability to convert those opportunities rendered these statistics obsolete, forcing the Gunners to settle for a point and keeping the Red Devils in the race for Champions League football.
Manchester United’s task was made even harder in the second half by Riviere’s red card, so as Arsenal were unable to put the ball past goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, they may elect to use the same gameplan.
If they do, then this will put the onus on Arsenal to create the opportunities and be more clinical than they were last time out. Their success in this department will likely be vital to determining the outcome of this match.
Can New-Signing Schüller Provide United with Much-Needed Goals?
Manchester United made a statement at the start of the transfer window, swooping early to bring in German striker Lea Schüller from Bayern Munich.
A forward with an elite goal scoring pedigree having scored 235 goals across her career, Schüller signed for Mark Skinner’s side with the objective of continuing that form and adding that finishing threat that the Red Devils desperately craved.
After scoring against Burnley, Schüller is likely to be handed her first start against WSL opposition with Norwegian striker Elisabeth Terland out having picked up a knock in their last game against Arsenal.
If she can carry on her illustrious goal-scoring pedigree into English football, then she may provide the spark needed for Manchester United to get themselves over the line and into the final.
Will Fixture Congestion Catch Up to Arsenal?
Fixtures come thick and fast at this stage of the campaign, and with Arsenal in the midst of their trickiest run of the season, Renee Slegers’ side will have to ensure they do not take their eyes off the prize if they want to book their place in the final at Ashton Gate.
This League Cup clash marks the start of a tricky sequence of matches. The Gunners travel to Chelsea on 24th January before they face AS Far and either Concacaf champions Gotham FC or Brazilian giants Corinthians in the FIFA Champions Cup.
There is no respite after that, with vital matches against WSL leaders Manchester City and then in the Champions League against OH-Leuven both needing their full attention if they are to continue to push for silverware.
In last week’s FA Cup tie, Aston Villa pushed them to their limit in an intense first half. Although they got over the line in the end, Arsenal were not as comfortable as they would have liked to have been, denying them the opportunity to sufficiently rest their stars.
With fierce rivals Tottenham and Manchester United themselves breathing down their necks in the race for a top three finish, there will be temptation for Arsenal to divert their attention to the challenges to come.
Doing so will be costly, as any slip ups will open the door for Manchester United to come away from Magnata Developments Stadium with victory and deny the 2024 champions their shot at reclaiming the trophy.