Strachan's Saints to play the United way

SOUTHAMPTON manager Gordon Strachan has hatched a special game plan in order to prevent favourites Arsenal running away with the FA Cup today.

Strachan says his team will try to follow the example of premier league champions Manchester United, who compromised their usual attacking style in the 2-2 draw at Highbury in April that went a long way to securing the title.

"You cannot win it playing the same way as Arsenal," Strachan said.

"They have proved time and time again that if you attempt to try and play them at their game, they will beat you because they have got better players.

"Even Man United, they went to Highbury and played very well but they had a plan, a different plan to what I've seen them play recently but they stuck to it.

"It was asking world class players to do certain jobs on the night ... If they have to play a certain way against Arsenal then we certainly have to."

Strachan expects to have Finnish goalkeeper Antti Niemi and experienced midfielder Chris Marsden, who both have knee injuries, available for today's game.

There have been no such worries in attack, where in-form strikers James Beattie and Brett Ormerod are fit and raring to go.

Southampton are attempting to emulate their shock 1976 FA Cup win over Manchester United, the only major trophy success in the club's history and, whatever else happens, Strachan is confident they will score.

"I think we can make chances," Strachan said. "We have played Arsenal three times since I've been here. We've drawn once, won once and got beat once.

"We've scored in every one of those games we've played against them. I do believe we can score goals. We have the weapons with which to score."

The defeat in question was the 6-1 thrashing at Highbury last week, when both sides had little to play for. Strachan knows what he is up against but he remains defiant.

"That game the other week they had 13 chances and took six, we had 12 and took one. That's class, real class. But I think we will make chances.

"We can compete with Arsenal. We are not as good as them technically, everybody knows that.

"People say you are underdogs but most clubs in the world would be underdogs against Arsenal. We know we can beat Arsenal if we do our job right."

Meanwhile, Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg has admitted that he is still 'angry' at the way his side allowed the title to slip through their grasp.

And while the Swede is determined to win the FA Cup, he concedes that it would still not make up for losing the Premiership to Manchester United.

Ljungberg was particularly annoyed at the way Arsenal squandered a 2-0 lead at Bolton to draw 2-2 on the day that the title race took a decisive twist.

So annoyed, in fact, that he went straight out and shaved off his hair.

"It's not the defence's fault. I think the whole team needs to play better.

"I don't say it's too attacking but maybe we switch off sometimes when we lose the ball and we need to be more concentrated," he observed.

"Even if we're offensive players, we need to see it as our responsibility not to concede goals. It's not just about the defence."