Selection woes for Fergie as van Nistelrooy faces op
Ferguson revealed he has already ruled seven members of his first-team squad out of the trip to Romania, including Ruud van Nistelrooy, while Darren Fletcher and Paul Scholes are doubtful because of their lack of pre-season match practice.
Van Nistelrooy, in particular, appears to have fallen victim to a shortened close season which saw him reach the semi-finals of Euro 2004 in June and then be required to play against former side PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday in an attempt to get him fit to face Dinamo.
Even though he only appeared for 45 minutes against PSV, it was enough to activate a hernia problem that requires surgery which will keep him out for a month.
"It is a blow to us," admitted Ferguson.
"It was a shock because it was only his first game back. You have to wonder whether seven days training was enough before he played in a match, but we have been caught in a difficult situation.
"Because of the major tournaments going on around the world, it feels like the season never really finished. On top of that we also have a Champions League qualifier, so it's not an easy one to resolve."
Van Nistelrooy's absence from the two-legged tussle with Dinamo, and United's first four Premiership games - including the mouth-watering opening weekend encounter with Chelsea - will be even more keenly felt as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is facing a possible three-month absence following a recurrence of a knee injury that kept him out for most of last season.
The Norwegian forward is due to have a minor operation tomorrow that Ferguson is "optimistic" will ease the discomfort Solskjaer has been suffering, although even the best case scenario will see him sidelined for six weeks.
It leaves Ferguson desperately hoping Louis Saha and Alan Smith are passed fit for the trip to Romania.
Saha is unlikely to be involved against Arsenal after being troubled by a minor Achilles problem, although Ferguson is confident the £12.8million Frenchman will be okay to face Dinamo.
United's squad has been stretched so thin that youngsters Jonathan Spector, Phil Bardsley, Chris Eagles and Kieran Richardson could all find themselves on the bench at least, with a possibility of a starting spot should Ferguson decide not to risk some of the more senior members of the squad.
"We are not in the best shape for Wednesday that's for sure," said the United boss, who will also be without Kleberson (knee), Liam Miller (groin), Rio Ferdinand (suspension) and Gabriel Heinze and Cristiano Ronaldo, who are both on Olympic duty.
"All we can do is hope to get through Sunday's game without any more hiccups."
Not that Ferguson's desire can be taken for granted. Such is the fierce rivalry between English football's recent powerhouses, the absence of fireworks cannot be guaranteed even in a pre-season meeting.
In last season's Community Shield meeting, which United won on penalties, Francis Jeffers was sent off for kicking Phil Neville and Sol Campbell picked up a three-match suspension for hitting Eric Djemba-Djemba in the face in retaliation for a high tackle by the Cameroon midfielder.
"Sunday's game is between two of the biggest clubs in the country," said Ferguson.
"Prestige comes into it, pride comes into it, so it is bound to be competitive. When Manchester United play Arsenal it can never be anything different, although I don't think it will be a barometer for what is going to happen over the season, history has proved that."
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