After last night's champion's league thriller, it's difficult to imagine that tonight's games will be as exciting. However for the fans of both Man United and Arsenal, tonight is definitely a pivotal night in their seasons. Man U of course already have a couple of trophies in the cabinet this season and a fighting chance of winning 3 more, although they've certainly made things difficult for themselves by conceding 2 goals at home to Porto last week. To reach the semi-finals United must win at the Estadio do Dragao, which is something no English side has managed before. However after last night's performances by Liverpool and Chelsea, it feels like anything is possible. United fans will also look to 1999, when United overcame the odds to beat Turin 2:3 after drawing at home and then trailing 0:2 away and then of course went on to win the Champions League final after a dramatic come back against Bayern Munich.
Arsenal only have a mathematical possibility of winning the league this year, although are still in with a chance of winning the FA Cup this year. However the Champions League is particularly poignant to many Arsenal fans, who are still hurting from 2006, when due to Jens Lehman's sending off after 18 minutes, many Gooners feel they never had a proper crack at bringing the trophy back to North London. The 4-1 win against Wigan at the weekend means that, after a poor start to the season, Gunners' only loss this year has been at Roma (a tie they eventually won on penalties). Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger certainly believes his side have the mental strength to beat Villarreal tonight and the Gunners have the advantage of an away goal after drawing 1-1 in the first leg. Arsenal will however be without defenders Johan Djourou and Gael Clichy, which further weakens the Gunners backline in the absence of William Gallas. Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia's ankle also rules him out of tonight's match.
However Villarreal are also under strength, missing midfielder Marcos Senna, the goal scorer of the first leg, who limped off at the weekend with a hamstring injury in a 2-0 defeat by Malaga. The Primera Liga side's midfield is also weakened, with Santi Cazorla injured and wingers Cani and Mati Fernandez doubtful. It will therefore be fascinating night of football. My prediction is that Man United will pull it off tonight by beating Porto 1:2 and that Arsenal will go through by scoring a single goal at the Emirates. So less of a goal fest than last night but all the elements will be in place for a fascinating semi final!
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