Man United boss wary of dogged Arsenal

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes a return to Arsenal’s more dogged past has been the key to their fine start to the season.

The Gunners are top of the table as they prepare for Monday’s trip to Old Trafford to face a United side that is a point behind them with a game in hand.

Arsene Wenger’s team have suffered four defeats this season, while United go into the match unbeaten in the Premier League.

But Ferguson thinks a rediscovery of the kind of physicality Arsenal were once famous for has been the difference in the Gunners’ campaign this year.

Wenger’s team have won admirers with their playing style but have not won any silverware since 2005.

Ferguson, whose side travel to Chelsea next Sunday, believes Arsenal are finally showing signs of maturity and steel.

“I think the general shape of the team has been far more mature and aggressive this year,” Ferguson said.

“They were very difficult to beat in the days of Emmanuel Petit and Patrick Vieira and the three at the back — (Martin) Keown, (Tony) Adams and (Steve) Bould.

“That brought them great success and I think that this team is showing that kind of maturity now.

“They will still try to play the attractive football Arsene believes in, but there’s definitely been a slight change.

“They?re top of the league – that?s a sure indication that they are better than they were last year and they?ll have a chance.”

Their rivalry has cooled a little in recent years as Chelsea have emerged as United?s main challengers after the arrival of Roman Abramovich.

But Ferguson thinks the Gunners are now a side that need to be taken seriously.

“Until four or five years ago, games against Arsenal were so important because we were both challenging for league titles against each other,” he said.

“Chelsea have now come into that bracket, though, and it has been ourselves and them over the last five years.

“But nonetheless, a Manchester United-Arsenal game, with the history of both teams, always guarantees a match of intensity and, a lot of the time, controversy.

“I?m sure that Monday?s game will be more or less the same because the pride and history of both clubs will determine that.”

Ferguson is sure that Rio Ferdinand, who limped out of the 1-1 draw with Valencia with a hamstring problem, Patrice Evra and Paul Scholes, who has been struggling with a groin problem, will all overcome injuries to feature against the Londoners.

Wenger is in buoyant mood heading into what he terms a “pivotal” Christmas period.

The United game is the first in a month-long period where they will also face Chelsea and Manchester City, as well as Leeds United in the third round of the FA Cup.

And he believes the fact they began December at the top of the Premier League sends a strong message of their intent.

“It is a pivotal period of the season over Christmas. In every competition we are playing we are in a strong position,” Wenger said.

“That means we are becoming strong, mature and that we know what we want. That is a sign of maturity that we are focusing on every game.

“We were a bit unlucky in some games, especially against United last year when we scored an own goal. But this is a good opportunity to show that we have matured and have gone to a different level.

“If we are top of the league in December, it means the other teams have not done better than us and we have the quality to beat them.”