Manchester United’s FA Cup third round opponents Arsenal have suffered a key blow ahead of the fixture.
Eliminated from the Carabao Cup in the quarter-final, Manchester United now only have one domestic trophy chance this season.
But considering the team’s indifferent form, with no back-to-back Premier League wins this season, retaining the FA Cup was always a long shot – and that was before we were drawn away to Arsenal.
United lost away at Arsenal in the league earlier this month, and the fixture is a tough one, with United’s away record in London notable for being terrible.
Bukayo Saka could miss FA Cup game
As it stands, Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka is now set to miss the FA Cup fixture against Manchester United due to a hamstring injury.
The Times reports Saka faces ‘several weeks’ on the sidelines with his third hamstring injury of the season.
Manchester United face Arsenal in the FA Cup on January 12, three weeks time.
The Times reports Saka is expected to miss between four and six weeks with the injury.
Saka has scored nine goals and provided 13 assists for Arsenal this season, and while he did not score against United in the recent cup game, he was a threat throughout.
Manchester United have more problems to deal with
The injury is early team news to note, but at this point, the FA Cup clash feels a long way off amid United’s more immediate problems.
The Arsenal loss in the league was one of three Premier League matches Manchester United have lost this month, losing 3-0 to Bournemouth on December 22.
United travel to Wolves next, before hosting Newcastle, and begin 2025 with a trip to Liverpool.
The FA Cup game against Arsenal follows, which will be tough whether Saka plays or not.
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