SIR Alex Ferguson is anticipating a football feast in London but still believes there will be some toe-to-toe muscle flexing against Arsenal.

It won't be for the first time!

Memories are still fresh of the 21-man Old Trafford brawl, Arsenal's schoolyard antics against Ruud van Nistelrooy, Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira's pre-match tunnel verbals and Pizzagate.

But despite the fixture lacking the two fiery captains of old to fuel the fire and no van Nistelrooy to get up Arsenal's nose, the United manager doesn't expect the hostility to ease.

"I think it will be competitive. They have aggressive players and we have aggressive players," said Fergie.

"But we're both aggressive in the right way. Positively aggressive. No football team on this planet can win without having your share of players who have desire to win. Arsenal are no different no matter what their boss Arsene Wenger says.

Storm

"However, we are both playing excellent football. We are the in-form teams.

"It should be a fantastic game. Every game is important for us now. Obviously this will be a harder game than other ones in the final 15 matches.

"It is important and hopefully we can navigate it successfully. We are playing well enough.

"In games like this if our best players are playing to their normal level we will cause problems for anyone.

"That's what good players do. Our form has been excellent and I hope we reach that level tomorrow."

Back in September it was Wenger's side that produced their real form and inflicted United's only home defeat so far winning 1-0.

"They were the far better side," the United boss conceded.

"We have to hold our hands up on that one. We had a bit of a virus about the place at the time but they were the better team on the day and deserved to win."

United recovered from that set-back to storm to the top of the Premiership while Arsenal had a form blip. If the Reds beat the Gunners tomorrow it will open up an 18-point gap between them and Wenger's fourth-placed side.

"You could never say Arsenal are completely out of it," added Sir Alex.

"There have been cases in the past where leads have been overturned. We have done it ourselves and Arsenal did it to us in 97. It's possible. You can't rule it out.

"If Chelsea and ourselves collapse completely then anything is possible but consistency is the key.

"I have been down this road before and so have Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville. But a lot of the others haven't.

"It is new for them. But we can help."

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