Nemanja Vidic is confident Manchester United know everything
they need to know about Champions League semi-final opponents
Arsenal.
The all-English showdown at Old Trafford on Wednesday promises
to be an enthralling affair as Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger
chase the single place on offer for Rome on May 27.
It will be a new experience for United too given they have never
previously faced Premier League opposition in a two-legged
match.
And, while Vidic respects the Londoners, he is certain his own
side will have done their homework correctly.
“We know everything about Arsenal,” said the Serbian star.
“I don’t suppose there are going to be many surprises on either
side. It should be a good game and we want to win.
“Arsenal have some top-quality players and they have started to
score plenty of goals.
“We respect them in that way but we will play our game and we
are confident we will get a good result.”
United did lose at the Emirates Stadium, a ground they are still
to win at, earlier this season in a game Sir Alex Ferguson
described as one of the best he had ever seen.
The quality is unlikely to be affected by the importance of the
occasion this time around as United attempt to become the first
team to successfully defend the Champions League while Arsenal try
to go one better than their defeat to Barcelona in Paris three
years ago.
One thing United do have in their favour is the return to form
of their defence.
After an unexpected wobble, during which they conceded 10 goals
in four games, the Red Devils have kept three successive clean
sheets.
And with Rio Ferdinand now recovered from his groin injury,
Ferguson’s team will entertain Arsenal in a position of
strength.
“We need Rio at this time of the year,” said Vidic.
“We have reached a point in the season when one game can decide
everything.
“Now is the semi-final of the Champions League and we must be at
our very best.”
Arsenal will bring 3,800 fans north for a very English occasion
which, at this stage of the competition, has previously been the
exclusive preserve of Chelsea and Liverpool.
But midfielder Michael Carrick is not alone in thinking
Wednesday will not be the same as a normal domestic
confrontation.
“European nights feel different,” he said.
“The atmosphere at Old Trafford is not the same and I am sure it
will be the same at the Emirates.
“Sometimes matches like these can be quite cagey affairs, other
times it can open right up, as it did at Stamford Bridge for the
4-4 draw with Liverpool.
“I am pretty sure they will be great matches for the neutral to
watch.”
With Gary Neville ruled out, Ferguson will hope to have John
O’Shea available to fill the right-back berth, otherwise he will be
forced to choose between the inexperience of Rafael or Wes Brown,
who is bound to be rusty after so long on the sidelines.