United’s rocky road to Rome

LIFT-OFF for Manchester United’s Champions League mission was delayed by a faulty train yesterday afternoon – Alex Ferguson will hope it is the only thing derailed as his team try to complete their journey to Rome.

United visit Arsenal with the cushion of a single-goal advantage and the knowledge they stopped their opponents grabbing a precious away goal in a one-sided first leg at Old Trafford last week.

It means that despite never winning at the Emirates Stadium, a similar result to the one experienced on any of their three previous visits will be enough to seal a final against either Chelsea or Barcelona on May 27.