Wenger gunning for United

A place in the FA Cup quarter-finals is not the only thing at stake when Manchester United and Arsenal lock horns again at Old Trafford tomorrow.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has challenged his champions to avenge their Barclaycard Premiership defeat at Old Trafford and give themselves a huge morale boost in the race for the title.

“My expectation level is very high. I want a big performance because I feel we were not that convincing in our last game there,” said Wenger.

“The FA Cup is still a big competition, and the best way for us to keep our belief high is to win everywhere we go. To strengthen that belief would be even more significant for us if we beat Manchester United.”

Wenger believes his team are in the right shape to push the Red Devils all the way.

“We have been consistent and we’re on a good run. Our next step is to get back the killer instinct that we usually have,” he said.

“But the belief is there, and the way we are playing strengthens that belief.”

An Arsenal victory when the teams met in the 1999 semi-final – settled in United’s favour by a Ryan Giggs goal in the replay – would have prevented Alex Ferguson’s side from winning the Treble.

But Wenger insists: “I don’t like negative thinking about stopping others from doing well.

“What brings you rewards, recognition and happiness is doing as well as you can.”

Whatever the outcome, both camps are looking forward to one of the biggest occasions of the English domestic season.

Ray Parlour – hoping to replace the injured Gilberto Silva in Arsenal’s central midfield alongside Patrick Vieira – is eagerly anticipating a game set to be televised live on BBC1 at lunchtime.

“You’re going to have to face the big sides sooner or later, and it would be a fantastic game to play in. United have been coming good lately – but we’re playing well too,” he said.

Nicky Butt is expecting a special Old Trafford occasion.

“There will be a lot more away fans, and that should make the atmosphere a lot better,” the England midfielder told MUTV.

“You have to give Arsenal credit for the way they have performed this season. But whenever we meet the big teams we always seem to bring out the best in each other.

“We have Juventus in the Champions League straight after that, so these are two big games – and once we get through them we will know where we stand.”

Alex Ferguson agreed: “It’s two big clubs going head-to-head - you can’t ask for anything bigger than that in the FA Cup.

“They are a good, quick and powerful team – physically stronger than most. You can’t dispute the enormity and interest that has been created by this tie.”

A calf injury means Giggs is almost certain to miss out for United, according to his Welsh international boss Mark Hughes.

But Paul Scholes, who has been troubled by a similar complaint, got through the first half of England’s shock defeat at the hands of Australia – and Ferguson will be hoping he does not suffer a reaction.

Doubts still remain over goalkeeper Fabien Barthez, who has missed the last two games with thigh and hip muscle injuries.

Wenger, definitely without Oleg Luzhny, is also deliberating on whether to restore Freddie Ljungberg to the squad after the winger came through a 45-minute run-out with the reserves in midweek following his Achilles injury.