Arsenal V's Manchester United FA Cup Fixture.

[Jack]

"Fasten your seat belts, warns Fergie ahead of another enticing United-Arsenal classic"

Will this be another thrilling Arsenal, Manchester United game? I sure hope so and after Fergie's comment I sure think it will be!

Source Daily Mail

Sir Alex Ferguson has promised that tomorrow's Manchester United-Arsenal FA Cup clash will light up the competition and has warned fans to: "Fasten your seat belts".

Both teams will rest players for tomorrow's game at Old Trafford ahead of important Champions League ties next week. But Ferguson still believes the two old rivals may be about to deliver another classic as the top teams in the country lock horns.

The United manager said: "The game will be a typical Manchester United and Arsenal game.

"It will be feisty and competitive and there will be a lot of really good football played too.

"Over the 20 years I have been here it is amazing that it has been Arsenal and United contesting these trophies virtually all the time.

"So that rivalry is there between the clubs.

"There has been some great games over the years and this will be another one. Nothing changes.

"So all I can say is 'Fasten your seat belts'."

And here's why - this rivalry runs deep...



United come in to the game having taken only one point from the last six in the Barclays Premier League and with last weekend's defeat at home to Manchester City having allowed Arsenal to take a five point lead.

Ferguson added: "I don't know what happened last week.

"I think that maybe the emotion of the Munich commemorations got to the players. I know it certainly got to me.

"But we certainly didn't deserve to win the game.

"It was one of the worst performances you could ever expect from a Manchester United team."

Ferguson is considering resting Cristiano Ronaldo for the game while Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is considering whether to leave out top scorer Emmanuel Adebayor.

The United manager added: "We have to rest players, we have no choice. We can't play the same team every week.

"But I don't think that will detract from the game."

[Steve Gardner]

It looks as though these two are about to claim the top two spots in the Premiership again. I think it'll be difficult for Chelsea to pip second, let alone win the title.

And, although Chelsea did win the league twice, it's hard to deny that Arsenal and Manchester United are the best two teams around.

I'm looking forward to this weekends' fixture. It doesn't matter whether they rest players or not, they've both got the strength in depth to field excellent sides. There's no doubt it'll be competitive (that video brought back some memories -isn't Keown a monster?) - I just hope that it'll also be a good game to watch.

[Jack]

I've got Martin Keowns Testimonial Match Programme, sadly not signed

[Steve Gardner]

I used to work for a company that had a box at Highbury. We used it for hospitality.

I remember taking one of my customers there to watch Arsenal play Southampton back in around 1993/4. It was an awesome game. Southampton took the lead, maybe even a two-goal lead, and Arsenal came back, as they always seem to. I think they won 4-2 in the end.

After the game, we met up with a few players and staff and got the match programme signed by pretty much the whole squad.

Sadly, I lost it.

[Jack]

I have a Match Programme signed by Freddie Ljungberg, however as he's not part of Arsenal anymore, except for it's history. It's not as big as it once was.

[Steve Gardner]

Mate, where were Arsenal this afternoon? The certainly weren't at Old Trafford.

And why did Wenger leave it until the 70th minute to make changes when they were 3-0 down in less than 40?

Having said that, a defeat away to United is no shame, but what about Liverpool's defeat at home to Barnsley?

I just can't understand what's gone wrong there at the moment. I mean, they'd already struggled badly against Luton and non-league Havant, and now this? And, perhaps more worrryingly from a financial point of view, it looks like they may miss out on a Champions' League spot this season as well.

Maybe Rafa's doing a Jol - he knows his days are numbered following the club's admission they spoke with Klinsmann, and is angling to be pushed rather than walk in order to collect £millions in compensation.

[Jack]

I think if Liverpool lose in the Champions' League this week then Rafa may lose his job.

[Steve Gardner]

I agree. If they go out to Inter - or even if they get past Inter but end up losing later - Rafa's in trouble. They're obviously not going to win the Premiership and I really can't see them collecting 4th on the strength of their current form. That'll make a big dent in the club's budget, which I assume is based upon Champions' League qualification as a bare minimum.