Louis van Gaal has filled his players ’ heads with so much information this season they look shackled . In a dressing room where everything is analysed , the players look unable to break free . If ever a fixture can change that , it ’ s this one . Manchester United against Arsenal is a game to inspire any player and , with a potential trip to Wembley , you can see players like Wayne Rooney falling back on their natural attacking instincts . If they do break from Van Gaal ’ s mould , those creative personalities could come flooding through . Wayne Rooney and his Manchester United team-mates have looked shackled under Louis van Gaal 's regime . PLAYING AT PACE . United have dominated possession recently but Arsenal won ’ t be troubled if United play keep-ball . The win at City shows how they are now just as happy hitting teams on the counter as they are keeping possession . With Alexis Sanchez , Danny Welbeck and Theo Walcott , they have pace to burn and with no Jonny Evans it means another change in the United backline , which will only increase uncertainty . Arsenal speedsters such as Theo Walcott can cause United 's defence all sorts of problems at Old Trafford . WATCH OUT FOR WELBECK . Danny Welbeck would have been smarting when he was sold by Van Gaal . He is a good finisher , a mature player and there is no way he will want to see United troop out for a Cup final in May . Danny Welbeck will be looking to prove a point to Louis van Gaal who moved him on from Old Trafford . THE FORTRESS IS CRUMBLING . When Arsenal last played United in the FA Cup , Sir Alex Ferguson ’ s side won 2-0 in 2011 . Since he left , Old Trafford has not been the same . In a season and a half , United have lost nine league games at home . That ’ s as many as Ferguson lost in his last six seasons . Teams don ’ t fear going there and even the home fans don ’ t know what to expect these days . Arsenal will hope to exploit any doubts . Old Trafford has not quite been the fortress of old since Sir Alex Ferguson 's departure . Van Gaal 's side have played 33 games this season , nine fewer than Arsenal , so should be fresher . In the table of minutes played by both squads , only two United players are in the top 10 and one is goalkeeper David de Gea . MINUTES PLAYED . Per Mertesacker , Arsenal : 3150 . Santi Cazorla , Arsenal : 3121 . Alexis Sanchez , Arsenal : 3081 . David de Gea , Man Utd : 2970 . Calum Chambers , Arsenal : 2392 . Wayne Rooney , Man Utd : 2383 . Kieran Gibbs , Arsenal : 2287 . Wojciech Szczesny Arsenal 2279 . Nacho Monreal , Arsenal : 2266 . Laurent Koscielny , Arsenal : 2194 . MY MEMORIES OF A CLASSIC RIVALRY . There has always been a great rivalry between these sides , but I never played at Old Trafford with any fear . I went there as a youngster in 1986 and won with Arsenal and during the Wenger years we had a team that could go and win anywhere . We were a physical team but we could play , and it was almost a compliment when United tried to match our physicality . In 1999 , Ryan Giggs scored that classic FA Cup goal and it turned the season . Arsenal could have won the double but United went on to win the treble . Andy Cole made a run to drag me out of position , but sometimes you just have to admire moments of genius . The other game people love to remind me of is the ‘ Battle of Old Trafford ’ in 2003 . In the little black book of opposition players , Ruud van Nistelrooy was one not to be trusted . He was a top player and a fighter , but he would look for any reason to go down . Perhaps I overreacted , but the whole team was infuriated by him . And I ’ m still not convinced I deserved to give away the penalty that Ruud eventually missed ! Martin Keown clashed with former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2003 .
The likes of Alexis Sanchez , Danny Welbeck and Theo Walcott can cause Manchester United problems on the counter . Danny Welbeck will be looking to prove a point to Louis van Gaal . Old Trafford is not quite the fortress it once was . In a season and a half , United have lost 33 league games at home . Man Utd vs Arsenal : Team news , match stats , probable line ups and more . CLICK HERE for all the latest Manchester United news .