Wenger: Don't expect fireworks when the top two collide

For a long time, a meeting between Arsenal and United was seen as the encounter of the Barclays Premier League season as the championship rivals locked horns, often in fiery affairs.

However, since the emergence of Chelsea as the challengers to United's crown, their importance has waned, along with Arsenal's title aspirations.

This year, though, it is set to be different - with the Gunners defending an unbeaten record of 24 matches in all competitions which stretches back to April last season and now seen as genuine contenders once again.

There is, of course, little love lost between the two camps, given the infamous 'Battle of the Buffet' in 2004 when Wenger's Invincibles were finally defeated at Old Trafford and notably the Red Devils' 4-2 win at Highbury later that season when Roy Keane squared up to Patrick Vieira in the tunnel.

Wenger accepts their relations had sometimes been "hotter" than in the current climate.

He reflected: "You could always handle things differently, and just sit back and do nothing.

"I feel the papers also have a responsibility to heat it up as much as possible before the game, but I feel as well that the managers have a responsibility to make first a football game.

"What is important is that this is a good football game and that we win. All the rest is less important."

Wenger quipped there could be "no guarantees" of tempers not being lost once again, but maintains professional respect for the United manager.

"Enemies is a big word," said the Frenchman.

"I don't know Ferguson well enough to say that I am friends with him. I respect him for what he has done, and for what he is doing in the job. That's it."

Ferguson believes the game will be "tense". Wenger believes this Arsenal squad will be more than ready for the challenge which awaits their emerging title credentials.

"The reason it fires us all up is you know that the games will be intensely competitive and that is the most important - not what happens in the corridor before or after the match," said Wenger.

"This is a game that will be watched by millions of people and they don't see what happened in the corridor, they only watch what happens on the pitch."

Wenger added: "I feel the two teams are playing well at the moment, and that with their characteristics, maybe the two teams are more technical than a few years ago, a little bit less physical.

"But of course the commitment in these kind of games is always very high, but the characteristics of the players are a little bit different now."

The Gunners boss may have been in reflective mood ahead of the big match, but the French coach diplomatically refused to be drawn on just who had thrown the first slice of pizza in that infamous incident in Manchester three seasons ago.

Wenger stressed: "I never have come out on what happened inside on that day and I will not today.

"I feel that some things we have to respect and if it went overboard on the day then we have a duty to stay quiet."

Whatever the outcome tomorrow, you sense there will always remain a professional appreciation between the two rival coaches.

Wenger said: "Ferguson has most of the qualities you need to be a great manager.

"He is passionate, makes the right decisions, personality and consistency in his motivation.

"You must sacrifice your life to be such a long time in a job like his.

"You get up in the morning and drive to the training ground and you're at work, but this job never leaves your head wherever you are.

"You need to be consistently determined in your attitude and we are the same as far as the sacrifice is concerned."