Sir Alex Ferguson has contradicted Patrice Evra's criticisms of Arsenal, warning his Manchester United side that they will face a "more mature and aggressive" Gunners outfit at Old Trafford on Monday.
Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United
GettyImagesSir Alex Ferguson has watched Arsenal evolve into a more robust outfit
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United defender Evra stoked the flames of one of the more entertaining Premier League rivalries this week by claiming Arsenal are no more than a "football training centre" in comparison to the trophy-winning juggernaught United have been in recent years.
But Ferguson senses Arsenal have evolved their style this season to mix steel with their attractive football, making them a potent force in the race for silverware. Ferguson paid Arsene Wenger's current crop, who sit top of the Premier League going into Monday's showdown, a massive compliment by likening their new robust approach to the great defensive units he faced in this fixture a decade ago.
"I think they'll still try to play the attractive football Arsene believes in, but there's definitely been a slight change'' Ferguson told United's website.
"The general shape of the team has been far more mature and aggressive this year. 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. They were very difficult to beat in the days of Emmanuel Petit and Patrick Vieira and the three at the back - Keown, Adams and Bould. That brought them great success and I think that this team is showing that kind of maturity now.''
It promises to be a fascinating duel, not least because neither side has been on top form over a consistent period this term despite securing the top two places. Arsenal have lost three times on home soil while United have been held to seven draws in an unbeaten 15-match start to the campaign.
Yet Monday should suit both sides as Ferguson's team have reserved their best performances for Old Trafford, while Arsenal head north on the back of five away wins on the trot.
Ferguson does not believe the fixture with Arsenal has lost any of its gloss since the emergence of Chelsea as a title-winning force.
"The games, particularly four or five years ago, were so important because both of us were challenging for league titles,'' he said. "Chelsea have now come in and it's been ourselves and Chelsea over the last five years. Nonetheless, it's Manchester United against Arsenal and the history of both teams always guarantees a match of intensity and a lot of the time, controversy. I think Monday night's game will be more or less the same because the pride and history of both clubs determine that.''
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