Fasten your seat belts, warns Fergie ahead of another enticing United-Arsenal classic

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• Fergie's FA Cup highs and lows as he notches up 100 ties

Both teams will rest players for tomorrow's game at Old Trafford ahead of important Champions League ties next week. But Ferguson still believes the two old rivals may be about to deliver another classic as the top teams in the country lock horns.

The United manager said: "The game will be a typical Manchester United and Arsenal game.

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"It will be feisty and competitive and there will be a lot of really good football played too.

"Over the 20 years I have been here it is amazing that it has been Arsenal and United contesting these trophies virtually all the time.

"So that rivalry is there between the clubs.

"There has been some great games over the years and this will be another one. Nothing changes.

"So all I can say is 'Fasten your seat belts'."

And here's why - this rivalry runs deep...

United come in to the game having taken only one point from the last six in the Barclays Premier League and with last weekend's defeat at home to Manchester City having allowed Arsenal to take a five point lead.

Ferguson added: "I don't know what happened last week.

"I think that maybe the emotion of the Munich commemorations got to the players. I know it certainly got to me.

"But we certainly didn't deserve to win the game.

"It was one of the worst performances you could ever expect from a Manchester United team."

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Ferguson is considering resting Cristiano Ronaldo for the game while Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is considering whether to leave out top scorer Emmanuel Adebayor.

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The United manager added: "We have to rest players, we have no choice. We can't play the same team every week.

"But I don't think that will detract from the game."