This Is The Moment: At Old Trafford

Tonight has finally come. After the comfortable win over Middlesborough at the weekend, all thoughts and preparation have turned to the massive clash with Manchester United tonight at Old Trafford. Luckily the match is two legs and we get to play them back at the Emirates (where we have never lost to them), but a win tonight, or at least a scoring draw, should be seen as essential. In many ways, tonight is the moment.

This is the moment that we all knew must be inevitable coming when we heard the quarterfinal fixtures. Man Utd had Porto, we had Villareal, two sides who were never anywhere near our two sides' level of quality and class. We dispatched of Villareal comfortably once back at home, and Man Utd did it once away. We were to meet in the Champions League for the very first time.

This is the moment for Arsene Wenger to give us another famous victory at Old Trafford. Lest we forget the historic moments that have come there, including the away match there in 2002 which won us league when Wiltord scored. But the last time we won at Old Trafford was two years ago in September 2007, where we won 1-0, the game coming after a spell of one point in our first three league games.

This is the moment then to prove we can still win there. Many critics have said this is the weakest Arsenal side in years. I believe it is one of the strongest. It is young, yes, but we play with more energy, a better style, and more togetherness as a team then we have done since Arsene Wenger arrived. On our day, our style of play can sometimes be even more glorious than the Invincibles.

This is the moment to prove that we have finally grown up. If we take a lead back to the Emirates, we can almost be certain we will be in the final. If the players are mature enough to realise this, they will put on t he performance of their careers tonight at Old Trafford. The final will be the biggest game of their lives, but until they get there, this is it, the biggest and most difficult game many of them have ever played. And we need to prove we are good enough..

Finally, this is the moment when silverware could well be lost for this season. If we lost to Man Utd tonight by any major scoreline, and make it impossible for ourselves back at the Emirates, we will have thrown out our last chance for silverware, much as we seemingly threw away the F.A. Cup back at Wembley. Not too many gooners minded that loss, because we knew the Champions League was a bigger prize anyway, but now the time has come to seize that prize, and I can only hope the lads will do it justice and make us proud of them once again.

This is the moment then that I'll sign off. I was going to do liveblogging on Twitter for this match, but I'd much rather watch it uninterrupted in all its glory. So none today, but we will have a match review afterwards, whatever the result. And don't forget to check the Twitter page for Fab 4 Arsenal updates more frequent than the posts here. Follow us on Twitter to get the updates on your front page. Here's hoping for a great night at Old Trafford,

Fab 4