United without Scoles and Smith

Paul Scholes sits out Manchester United’s high-octane clash with Arsenal at Highbury after suffering blurred vision as a result of a knock picked up at Birmingham last week.

The former England midfielder missed Saturday’s win over Bolton with a migraine and the problem has failed to disappear, although Alex Ferguson hopes Scholes will be available for the weekend FA Cup tie at non-league Burton.

With Scholes missing, along with Alan Smith, who has yet to shake off a chest infection, Ferguson made just two changes to the side that beat Bolton on Saturday, recalling Ruud van Nistelrooy and Wes Brown at the expense of Louis Saha and Kieran Richardson.

Beset by injuries himself, Arsene Wenger included Robert Pires and Jose Antonio Reyes for the sidelined Freddie Ljungberg and Robin van Persie, while Gilberto Silva was fit enough to take his place in the Gunners midfield.