Fletcher expects Arsenal battle

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The Gunners have taken a huge amount of stick over the past week, with many pundits accusing Arsene Wenger of sour grapes for his reaction to the way Stoke played when they beat the Gunners at the Britannia Stadium last weekend.

But Fletcher warned: "They will come out fighting. I am sure they will have been hurt by the criticism they have had with certain teams saying this and that."

After following that with a disappointing Champions League draw against Fenerbahce and also suffering spate of injuries, including star striker Emmanuel Adebayor, Arsenal look ripe for the taking when Manchester United head to the capital.

But Fletcher knows it will not be so simple. And after being on the wrong end of such fierce criticism, the Scotland international feels Arsenal will be thirsting for victory against their old rivals.

He added: "They will have read all the comments, so they will be coming out to show they are not all just about passing and flair.

"Arsenal have top quality players and I am sure they will be hurting. But criticism like that will only spur them on."

Not for the first time, Arsenal are being accused of having a very soft underbelly beneath their silky passing game.

"Sometimes you need more than good quality and good passing to win you games," said Fletcher. "Maybe that has hit home to the after all the criticism."