Fergie fumes as Arsenal stroll on

'All right, that was a serious offence and no one would disagree that something had to be done, but United took their own action in suspending him for four months. I don't think Arsenal would suspend one of their own players for four months, no matter what he had done.

'The FA said what Eric did set a terrible example to young people. Given that he did it in a night match that wasn't on television, while United versus Arsenal kicked off at lunchtime with probably about 10 million kids watching live on TV, I wonder what was really the worst example.

'Certainly what Arsenal did that day was the worst thing I have seen in sport and it was no wonder they were so delighted by the FA verdicts. I still can't understand the psyche of some of their people that day.'

His particular target was Patrick Vieira, the Arsenal skipper who was sent off in the 81st minute of the game.

'As captain of Arsenal he jeopardised his team that day by trying to kick Ruud. Let's not forget he tried to kick him, even if that mob (Arsenal) conveniently-forget a few things,' he said. ' What amazed me was there was no criticism from Arsenal towards the captain of their team, who had let them down. Not a bit.'

If that does not fan the flames, nothing will. But the reality is that United will need to play better than they did at Birmingham if they are not to see the gap stretch to a yawning 14 points. United may have bought Louis Saha, Alan Smith and Wayne Rooney to supplement their forward power but they have also sold David Beckham and Nicky Butt while Roy Keane just about continues to defy the ravages of time.

Robbie Savage, who puts himself-about like Vieira although with rather less panache, said: 'To have any chance of doing well against United you have got to work harder than them.

'You have to get about them. You have to get in their face and you have got to get stuck in.'

Birmingham certainly did that, closing down space and snarling into the tackle, suggesting that they should not really have too many problems in the long-term. Steve Bruce will consider that his side might have snatched a famous victory.

They may never get a better opportunity. Without Ryan Giggs and with Paul Scholes on the bench until the 77th minute, there was no real craft and creativity in United's midfield, with Birmingham's Julian Gray doing an excellent job of containing Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ferguson just threw on more strikers, finishing the game with five - if you include Scholes - but the truth was that they were falling over each other as they chased the scraps that were being created from a disappointing midfield.

There was a time when United's football was telepathic. Here there was a plethora of misplaced passes and disjointed rhythm, suggesting that all Arsenal need do is play around them next Sunday.

Fergie's comments may have been premeditated, although he appears to have got a little over-excited in mid-stream, but Wenger is unlikely to respond with such extreme language.

He does not have to. Arsenal are in the box seat. United have their worst points total after nine games since the Premiership started 12 years ago and when Ferguson said: 'This is a must-win game for us', he could almost be accused of understatement.

'We want to beat Arsenal next week really badly,' he added.

No one doubts that.