Wounded Arsenal can bite back

EVEN allowing for the psychological cut-and- thrust which inevitably accompanies encounters between Manchester United and Arsenal, Alex Ferguson goes into tomorrow’s match with a sharper than average edge.

United are riding on the momentum provided by that midweek destruction of Panathinaikos in the Champions League, even if their 5-0 victory was assisted by the sort of wretched Greek side which would have struggled in the Nationwide League.

Arsenal are running on empty in terms of confidence after seeing their defence dismantled clinically at Highbury by the superior steel and imagination of Inter Milan.

So no contest then. Well, there are few men prouder than Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, and fewer still capable of dissecting the lessons of a demoralising defeat.

“We have to show how strong we are mentally and how strong our togetherness is,” said Wenger, following Wednesday’s Champions League defeat. “The only thing we can do is respond well.”

That is what United should expect at Old Trafford. It is only seven months since Arsenal went to Old Trafford and plundered a 2-0 FA Cup triumph which ranks as one of Wenger’s most satisfying experiences.

They have not become a bad team overnight but Inter did expose flaws, mostly in the Gunners defence which Wenger has never successfully addressed since the break-up of the Tony Adams-led Arsenal back four which brought such success for George Graham.

Nowadays, the confidence of Ashley Cole has been undermined by criticism at international level, Lauren’s positioning remains suspect and while Sol Campbell has been a tower at times in central defence the untimely death of his father will almost certainly preclude his presence tomorrow.

The attacking force, which has proved so formidable during the past free-scoring seasons, has also come in for criticism.

“There’s no variety,” says former Gunners fullback Kenny Sansom.

“They need to be able to throw in the occasional long ball or whip in some crosses. I’d love to see someone like Alan Smith (the former Arsenal centre forward) or Niall Quinn playing up front.

“Thierry Henry scores a lot of goals now but with a big striker alongside him I’m sure he’d get 10 more a season.”

Arsenal do have an obsession with playing deftly and narrowly through teams, relying on the pace of Henry and Sylvain Wiltord, the late runs of Freddie Ljungberg, the guile of Robert Pires and the sweeping counter- attack.

When it works they are by far the most pleasing attacking force in Britain. But other sides are devising ways to combat tactics which have barely changed in the last five years. Consequently, Arsenal appear more vulnerable.

By contrast United, whose defence is also bedeviled by uncertainty, can play in a variety of ways thanks to Ferguson’s conviction that unpredictability was the most likely tool to conquer Europe’s elite.

Ferguson’s summer purchases have enlivened his squad, something Wenger has been denied by the financial restrictions of Arsenal’s proposed new ground.

Above all, however, tomorrow is the time for Patrick Vieira to prove he is worthy of taking over Roy Keane’s mantle as the Premiership’s most industrious and inspirational midfielder.

Since the Arsenal captain signed the new contract it took so long to agree, his form has been a shadow of the man who appeared to be on his way to Real Madrid at the end of last season. Although in midweek he was abandoned effectively by the anonymous performances of Gilberto and Pires.

Never has there been a more crucial time for Vieira to echo Wenger’s call for “strength of character,” provide protection for a shaky defence and restore the driving force to the Arsenal engine room.

Wenger has warned United that Arsenal will be ready for a physical battle at Old Trafford, even if Campbell is unable to play.

Spirits at Highbury have not exactly been helped by the death of Campbell’s 74-year-old father, Sewell, after suffering a stroke.

The Arsenal boss revealed: “Sol was not in training today. I will have a chat with him but, at the moment, he looks unlikely to play.

“Some things are bigger than football but you never know how people will react on these occasions. Some become lions and get their frustration out, while others don’t have their minds on the game.

“I think the players are still disappointed, but we have two days to prepare and this is a chance to bounce back and show our mental strength,” said Wenger.

“When you go into a season, you know that you will have these kind of disappointments. Any club will. It is how you respond to them which will decide the season.

Alex Ferguson has defended Manchester United’s disciplinary record.

“Our disciplinary record is fantastic,” he said. “We have won the Fair Play League for the past couple of seasons and whether that is a significant achievement or not, it tells you something about our discipline.

Of Arsenal’s European nightmare, Ferguson added: “I was surprised because you don’t expect Arsenal to lose that way,” said the United chief.

“Once they went two goals behind, it was always going to be difficult for them because they were chasing the game but I don’t see that result as having any significance on Sunday.

“People are saying they will be even more determined at Old Trafford, but there is only so much effort you can put into a match and I’m sure they were determined on Wednesday,” said Ferguson.