“For years now we always looked over our shoulder at Arsenal, and they looked over their shoulder at us. Now we have Chelsea banging on the door, and now this season, Liverpool are making a big effort. So, you know, it's a very competitive league, but ourselves and Arsenal over a long period have certainly been the dominant forces in English football,” Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United coach, said.

“Well we need to win without losing a goal, I can put it that way. I'd be delighted to win the game one-nil. I would be happy to take that to the Emirates [Arsenal’s home stadium],” he added.

Meanwhile, Arsenal are without a title of any kind since 2005, and the Champions League is their last chance for a piece of silverware this season.

Arsene Wenger will be without striker Robin van Persie, who's injured, while in-form midfielder Andrey Arshavin is ineligible for play.

An away goal could prove crucial heading to the second leg at the Emirates Stadium, which gives Wenger's side full license to employ their familiar attacking style.

“What I want is my team to play with belief, with certainty and with desire to score goals. After that… it's never predictable, will you see many goals or not, but what is predictable is both teams have an offensive style and we will certainly try to score goals,” Arsene Wenger said.