Gunners patchy at home

LONDON - ALEX Ferguson, the master of mind games, heated up tomorrow's clash at Arsenal by claiming the Gunners had 'over-achieved' by reaching last season's Champions League final.

In a further swipe, the Manchester United manager claimed Arsenal's patchy Premiership form is down to their failure to adapt to their new Emirates Stadium.

'Nobody expected Arsenal to get to the Champions League final, it was a surprise,' he said.

'But rather than it being a negative it should have been a positive, because they had over-achieved.'

Arsenal have picked up just 23 points from a possible 33 at home this season.

Ferguson will be hoping United can compound that poor record in what could prove to be a key weekend in the title race. The top four are playing each other.

'This season Arsenal have got young players, and a change to a new stadium may have something to do with it,' he told The Mirror.

'A change of environment, a different type of pitch, a lot of things can go into it.'

History points to a United win. Arsenal have not beaten the Red Devils at home since 2001.

United also have the best away record in the Premiership this season, winning 26 points out of a possible 33.

But, on current form, the Gunners have every chance of doing the double over their great rivals.

They beat United 1-0 at Old Trafford earlier this season without captain Thierry Henry.

Tomorrow, they have the advantage of a fully-fit Henry.

They have won four straight games since his return to the squad - though he did sit out the League Cup thrashing of Liverpool - and by an aggregate 15-4 margin.

The French striker has got on the scoresheet in each game he has played, including an absolute stunner at Blackburn last weekend.

Arsenal carved out a 2-0 win despite playing the bulk of the game with 10 men.

That is exactly the sort of match they would have lost earlier in the campaign - just think of their trips to Sheffield United, Bolton and Manchester City.

So, the significance of that performance should not be underplayed.

The one downside is the red-carded Gilberto Silva misses out tomorrow.

That is a blow but the manager Arsene Wenger maintains there is enough resolve within the squad to cope.

'We will replace him with a good player who will give everything against United,' he said.

'Mathieu Flamini did well at Liverpool recently.'

It is not going to be easy to get all three points because United have in Cristiano Ronaldo one of the players of the season.

However, the Old Trafford side have shown signs of vulnerability lately.

They have not kept a clean sheet in any of their five games since Christmas.

And recent trips away from Old Trafford have seen them suffer a shock defeat by struggling West Ham and play out a 2-2 draw with a distinctly average Newcastle United.

Arsenal are always dangerous when teams attack them.

It would be completely out of character for United to be anything other than positive, as they try to maintain their lead at the top of the Premiership.