Bergkamp - Pressure is on United

Dennis Bergkamp has warned Alex Ferguson that the pressure is all on Manchester United when Arsenal travel to Old Trafford this week in search of the Double.

Bergkamp warned that the Gunners feel almost unbeatable in the wake of their weekend FA Cup final victory against Chelsea, which was their 10th consecutive domestic win.

A point at Old Trafford on Wednesday night would be enough for them to add the Barclaycard Premiership crown to their list of achievements.

However, even if they lose for the first time in a domestic game since December 18 against Newcastle, victory at home to Everton on Saturday at Highbury would still bring them the title.

Bergkamp, whose side lead the table by five points with two games left, declared: ‘‘It was very important to win at Bolton last week and to have two chances to win the title.

‘‘That takes away a bit of the pressure from the Wednesday game, especially after winning this cup final as well.

‘‘To win the title at Old Trafford would be great but all that is really important is to win it. I also remember it was quite special to win the league in 1998 at Highbury.’’

Then again, Arsenal have not lost a league game away from home all season and are on the verge of making history if they avoid defeat against United.

‘‘We have to focus on what our away record is. We haven’t lost yet and we don’t want to do that,’’ said Bergkamp.

‘‘It would be quite special for our season to keep that going. If we do that, it means we will have won the title. We just have to keep going with what we’ve been doing in away games.’’

He stressed Arsenal would not be deflected by any mind games from Ferguson, who recently claimed that United have been the best side in England since Christmas.

‘‘We’re quite strong and experienced enough to just focus on our own season and our own games,’’ insisted the Dutchman.

Manager Arsene Wenger shares his confidence, declaring not only that Arsenal will lift the Double but agreeing with a suggestion that they can go on to rival United’s domination of the English game.

‘‘I think so,’’ he said. ‘‘Let’s first win the title and then come back and win it again.

‘‘It’s a big game for us on Wednesday as it’s the championship at stake and we want to show we are strong away from home.

‘‘No matter whether it is at Old Trafford, we want to win it on Wednesday night and as quickly as possible. A draw does it for us but that is not a good way to go to Manchester United.’’

Wenger must decide whether to alter his cup final team at Old Trafford, with Martin Keown pushing for a recall if Tony Adams feels the strain of two games in four days, while Edu is another contender in midfield.

But while Bergkamp believes the sale of Jaap Stam has weakened United’s defence, both he and Wenger paid tribute to the influence of Sol Campbell in revitalising the Gunners’ back four.

Wenger declared: ‘‘We have been rejuvenated at the back. That was always a big question mark and although we were quite young at some stages and it took time to find stability, it has worked quite well.

‘‘Sol has been tremendous but there has also been the blossoming of some players like Robert Pires, Frederik Ljungberg and Sylvain Wiltord.

‘‘Thierry Henry has scored some great goals and Dennis Bergkamp has come into form. It’s all happened together.

‘‘We were at the stage where you think that coming second could become a pattern of behaviour so you push everybody a bit.

‘‘This trophy shows you how much the players wanted to win. We will do it now. We need to be patient but we will give everything in our next game.’’