Source: SKY_Sports
Fergie eyes calmer clashes
Sir Alex Ferguson believes that the UEFA Champions League semi-final matches with Arsenal will not be as highly charged as previous encounters.
United and Arsenal had some heated matches in the late 1990s and early 2000s as the two clubs battled it out at the top of the Premier League.
But ever since Chelsea arrived on the scene to break up the duo's dominance of the English game the clashes have been more reserved.
The rivalry reached such heights that the emotions of the fixture at times spilled out after the final whistle.
Memories of Arsenal players aggressively surrounding Ruud van Nistelrooy at the end of a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford in 2003 springs to mind.
While the 2004/05 season brought the infamous 'pizzagate' scandal at Old Trafford, and the Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira war of words in the tunnel at Highbury prior to a 4-2 away win for the Red Devils.
"For many years they were our main competitor," Ferguson stated.
"The games were high octane. They were highly-charged matches. It has calmed down a bit in the last couple of years, maybe because the personalities have changed."
Gone are the ferocious characters of Keane and Vieira, to be replaced by the flair of Cristiano Ronaldo and Cesc Fabregas, and Ferguson insists that skill was evident at Emirates Stadium earlier in the season, despite his side losing 2-1.
"The football played that day was outstanding and you would say there are goals riddled right through the tie," he added.
"But it is still incredibly interesting and intense."
The Scot is conscious of the threat that the Gunners will pose, particularly with a lot of their main players coming back fresh after spells on the sidelines.
"We now we have to start to think how we will navigate through our next few games because we have a big programme coming up," he explained.
"What we need to do with Arsenal is to try to get a foot in the final by winning the home game.
"That is not going to be easy. Arsenal are fresh and have come into good form lately.
"They have four or five players back who are totally fresh - (Emmanuel) Adebayor, (Theo) Walcott, (Robin) Van Persie, Fabregas - which obviously has a lot to do with the way they are playing at present.
"But we must attempt to get a lead to take with us to the Emirates."
