It's to be expected, since our progress to the Champs League semis, together with the rearrangement> of the Portsmouth game to this Wednesday, means that we've got 2 games a week for the rest of the season. But this is always an important game, and we need to try to keep on the coat-tails of Tottenham who won yesterday and are 5 points clear in 4th going as we go into the Old Trafford clash.

If there are changes, then the most likely, are one of Robin van Persie or Dennis Bergkamp coming in (most likely Robin, with Dennis having had a groin injury being one of the reasons), possibly for Adebayor or Jose Reyes, Abou Diaby coming in for Cesc Fabregas, and Johan Djourou for one of the centrebacks. Sol_Campell is available but more the Pompey game is probably a more appropriate one to throw him into for his first game back.

Some previews are expecting the same team to start that did against Juventus on Wednesday. But personally, I'd have expected us to go back to 4-4-2 for this one, to go very much for the 3 points, and if that's the case then van Persie or Adebayor makes more sense than Reyes as a partner for Thierry Henry, because they're scoring more goals. It's also worth noting that Kerrea Gilbert has made a return in the reserves, playing 2 matches in the last couple of weeks after being out 2 months with a back problem. As with Sol, Wednesday's trip to Fratton Park is a more likely choice to bring him in and give Emmanuel Eboue a rest. Cole and Clichy are both expected to be in full training in a week or so.

Ashley Cole, Gael Clichy, Pascal Cygan and Lauren are all injured still.

For Manchester United, Wes Brown returns from a groin injury, but may only make the bench. Apart from that the main point of interest is Alex Ferguson's choice between Louis Saha and Ruddy van Nostrilrooy. Saha's been starting more, but he may be swayed the other direction by the fact that historically, van Nistelrooy has a tendency to get under Arsenal's skin.