Carrick reveals Gunners link

Michael Carrick has admitted he nearly joined Arsenal instead of Tottenham from West Ham.

Now at Manchester United, Carrick is set to face both north-London giants over the next week, with tomorrow’s visit from former club Spurs followed by the encounter with Arsenal on September 17.

Even at £18.6m (€27.4m), quitting White Hart Lane for the Red Devils caused something of a stir, so moving to the north-west from Arsenal would have been impossible.

Yet, the 25-year-old so nearly ended up a Gunner as Arsene Wenger sought a replacement for Patrick Vieira 12 months before the Frenchman eventually quit to sign for Juventus.

“There was interest from Arsenal before I joined Spurs,” Carrick told the official Manchester United magazine. “Vieira was meant to be leaving but at the time it didn’t work out. That is the way football goes. Sometimes it takes you down paths you don’t expect.”

Carrick’s present path has brought him to Old Trafford, where he should make his first home appearance in a United shirt tomorrow.

Given Tottenham have not beaten the Red Devils away from home since Gary Lineker scored the winner in 1989, it seems unlikely Martin Jol’s side will break the sequence.

However, even without Carrick and groin-injury victim Dimitar Berbatov, Spurs have enough quality in their ranks to threaten United’s 100% start to the season.

No member of the home camp will need any reminding they also picked up nine points from the first three games 12 months ago, only to falter badly immediately after the September international break, drawing twice and losing at home to Blackburn.

With Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes suspended, Ferguson could name the same starting line-up which defeated Watford a fortnight ago.

Before finalising his plans, the Scot will first need to check on the fitness of the members of his squad who have been away on international duty, plus Gary Neville, who missed England’s Euro 2008 qualifying wins over Andorra and Macedonia with a calf injury.

Another man who has outside hopes of being involved is Alan Smith, who is now three reserve games into his comeback from the horror injury he suffered in the FA Cup defeat at Liverpool seven months ago.

“If the gaffer were to ask me if I would be ready for the bench against Spurs, I would say ’yes’ without any hesitation,” Smith told the Manchester Evening News.

“Ninety minutes of Premiership football would be very difficult at the moment but to come on as a substitute would be no problem.

“If you are playing at Old Trafford, you get that adrenaline rush and that would see you through. If it is not this weekend then we have the Champions League starting next week against Celtic and, with seven allowed on the bench, then there might be a chance.”