The England midfielder said: "The feeling at United is there is a bit of boastfulness about Arsenal's French contingent but maybe that is just the way they are, confident people who say what they think.
"I read that Pires reckons they are going to beat us 3-1. So they must be ultra-confident. Well, we'll see. Whatever is said before a game the only thing that matters is what happens on the pitch. I have to admit that everyone at United takes more enjoyment about beating Arsenal than anyone else. There is an intense rivalry between us and, even though this is an international, there will be an element of that."
Arsenal are not the only club with an interest in both camps on Sunday. Real Madrid also have a French and English representative. One of the Spanish club's players, Zinedine Zidane, is looking forward to taking on fellow galactico David Beckham.
"Playing against Beckham will be fantastic," said Zidane. "He's a great player, and from being alongside him all season I know the danger he could pose to us."
England will decide today whether John Terry can play on Sunday. The Chelsea captain is England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson's only injury worry with a hamstring problem.
Terry will train this morning but it looks increasingly unlikely he will be fit in time and Spurs' Ledley King is the favourite to replace him.
ENGLAND probable: James (Man City), G Neville (Man Utd), A Cole, Campbell (both Arsenal), King (Tottenham), Beckham cpt (Real Madrid), Lampard (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool), Scholes (Man Utd), Owen (Liverpool), Rooney (Everton).
