As an Arsenal fan it is not often that I would not take great pleasure in any misfortune that came the way of our old rivals Manchester United but rules are there to be broken, as it were, and circumstances dictate that I will be crossing my fingers and hoping that Louis van Gaal and his team get a win this week in the FA cup replay.
There are two reasons for this as well. The first is also the reason why, even though I want United to win I do not want them to win easily, because their midweek game is the FA cup replay against West Ham who Arsenal face away in the Premier League on Saturday.
What we really want is a hard game that goes to extra time with United finally winning so the Hammers are tired and dispirited when Arsenal arrive there at the weekend. But we also want United to go into the weekend buzzing and full of confidence because their game is against our north London rivals Tottenham at White Hart Lane.
The spuds are already faltering in their own title challenge and another game without a win would surely herald in another St. Totteringham’s day for Arsenal fans to celebrate. We could well end the week just point behind them if Man United beat West Ham and give our season a timely double boost.