Scholes is sure of a United revival

"It's simple; it's a massive game and somebody's going to come away with nothing. We have to do our best to make sure it's not us."

The odds, he accepted, were probably against United. "It's obvious we're not playing as well as we would like and Arsenal are in great form. I think you have to say they're going to be favourites."

Yet old superiority complexes die hard. "Still, though, we fancy ourselves whoever we're playing. We still feel we're capable of beating anyone. Hopefully, we can do well for a third time against Arsenal this season."

At Carrington, it was impossible to escape a sense of quiet desperation about the need for a Reds' victory. With players not allowed to talk about the takeover - reporters could be heard muttering Fawlty-like "I mentioned Glazer once but I think I got away with it" - the feeling is of a club and a team at the crossroads, urgently seeking comfort from that old drug of success.

Scholes himself is a symbol of those more certain times, the local lad who at 30 embodies United's spirit as obviously as Roy Keane. He's heard plenty of 'crisis at United' stuff before. Doubtless he's heard, too, all the widespread theories about this year's decline, whether it be talk of underperforming stars like himself or of a manager past his sell-by date or of a flawed, deeply dull 4-5-1 system which supposedly betrayed the club's attacking tradition.

Asked for his idea of what's gone wrong, he said: "I've no idea what it is really. We just haven't played well enough - simple as that. Our defence has been fantastic but we haven't scored the goals we should have done to keep us up there in the league and we couldn't manage to score over the two games against Milan. Ultimately, it's cost us dearly."

A total of 58 goals in the Premiership represents United's least prolific campaign-for 14 years, a dismal haul for their enviable attacking riches even given the proliferation of injuries. Yet beyond that, there have been quest ions over whether United's splendid 30-something brigade - Scholes, Keane, Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs - can have either the desire or the legs to keep driving for success after all these silver years.

Scholes sounds almost affronted by the suggestion. "No, of course, we're as keen as ever to win things," he insisted. "What's happened in the past doesn't interest us. We just want to go on and try and win the league again, a Champions League medal and FA Cups."

What's more, he believes United can. Enthusing about a backbone of young talent including Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, John O'Shea, Darren Fletcher and Wes Brown, he said: "I still think the seeds are there of another great United side. Next year is a big year; our young players will have more experience. We'll really have to push on and try to win the league again and we all know we're capable. I think then we'll have no excuses."

Chelsea, he suggested, would not have it their own way. "There are no guarantees because we know we'll have to play well just to keep up with them and Arsenal, but I know we'll be desperate from the very start of next season not to do what we did this year and let Chelsea get away."

Before then, though, there's the little matter of another Millennium Stadium date and a possible fourth Cup winners' medal. "There have been so many titanic battles with us and Arsenal over the last 10 years. It looks so close again, I don't know how you can call it really," he mused. "I don't know how we're going to win it but we just have to try to find a way."

If anyone can for United, their ginger prince can. Yesterday's man? You wouldn't bet against him still ending up tomorrow's hero.