Richard Wright is expected to miss the game with his knee injury. David Seaman is back in training but not ready to play. So Stuart Taylor continues his baptism of fire. This is a highly rated young keeper with England experience (he's even trained with the first team, when he practised saving Beckham free-kicks). I don't really need to build him up though. After the last couple of games Gooners confidence in him is unlikley to be any lower than that in poor Wrighty (who we fully expect to come good in the medium to long term).

Keown is a doubt, Upson and Campbell probable. Adams Dixon and Jeffers are (still) the other main absentees.

United have Ryan Giggs out till the New Year with a hamstering injury. Quinton Fortune filled in in Munich last week. Ronnie Johnsen is their other confirmed absentee, although both Irwin and Keane are doubts.

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