Manchester United against Arsenal

Giggs robs Parlour who feeds it to Forlan

Quinton Fortune gets a yellow card for a foul on Parlour

Neither side can get a hold on the ball, with tackles flying in, but no real guile from either United or Arsenal

The ref tries to calm the game down, but the players and crowd are wound up into a frenzy!

Cole down injured, but the game has not stopped. Ljungberg has rejoined the action, but looks hurt

The stadium is rocking after that incident - but can either side clinch a winner?

Ljungberg is off the field injured. Bergkamp can't continue and Edu joins the fray in his place

Play back underway, with Van Nistelrooy also in the book, presumably for words with the ref

Steve Bennett will be in the headlines again - he was the referee in charge of the eventful Community Shield between theses two sides at the start of the season

The Arsenal players are furious with Van Nistelrooy. He leapt high to take a ball, but then landed on top of Vieira who appeared to kick out at the striker.

Vieira is sent off! What drama!!

Forlan finds Phil Neville who finds Keane on the right, but his cross is too long

Meanwhile, Bergkamp is off the field getting attention for an injury

Vieira earns himself a booking. He does not want to talk to the ref though, he better be careful or it might get worse

There is a real ebb and flow to this game now, with chances at either end

Quick break for the Gunners, but Henry's pass to Parlour is not good enough and Parlour cannot get a cross in

Giggs takes a free-kick on the left, close to the Arsenal byline, but Lehmann calls and gathers

Substitution for United: Forlan on for O'Shea

A grerat run from Vieira results in a near miss and a suspect lineman's flag after a clever ball from Bergkamp

Keane tries to find van Nistelrooy with a dinked pass over the Arsenal back four, but Keown clears

Ljungberg is released again on the right but Ferdinand show quick feet and no little skill to tackle him, and clears

Arsenal break down the right with Ljungberg, he finds Bergkamp, but he passes back

Henry tries to get past Phil Neville but is tackled

He recieves some attention from the physio, but seems to fine and play is back underway with Silvestre

Quinton Fortune is down clutching his face after a challenge on Vieira

Parlour and Bergkamp try and work an opening on the right wing, but the concede defeat against resolute defending and play it back to retain possession

Henry finds himself in space on the lef wing, he fires in a great cross but finds no one is there to try a shot!

Ronaldo tracks back and tackles Cole as he tried to scamper down the Arsenal left, it has been an interesting battle between those two today.

The last quarter of the match approaching and perhaps the managers will be thinking about changes

Howard releases the ball quickly and Giggs gathers before passing to van Nistelrooy, but he loses out to Cole and compunds his mistake by fouling the Arsenal and England left back

Lauren fires in a great cross but Howard jumps and gathers with a calm assurance

Ronaldo does a good job at the back of closing the door on Ashley Cole who is in an advanced position, the defender is forced to play it back

Corner to Arsenal, but there is a foul in the box and United have a freekick, which Howard takes

Quick break from Arsenal but Henry and Parlour pull out of their runs and Ljungberg's pass is wasted

Ronaldo takes the resulting freekick on the left wing, near the corner flag, but it's cleared

Keown gets himself in the book by scything down Quinton Fortune

Good pressure from Arsenal, but an organised United defence means the Gunners are unable to penetrate and the lose the ball by trying to release Ljungberg

Lauren work is to Henry, who spreads ot wide

The kick comes in but it floats away from Vieira who leaps high but connects with thin air

Lauren tries to find Henry after a run down the right and the Gunners win a corner off Ferdinand

Van Nistelrooy turns his marker inside the Arsenal box but his scuffed left foot shot it gathered by Lehmann - he could have passed to Giggs who was unamrked on the edge of the area!

Van Nistelrooy is just edged out by his old pal Keown - exciting stuff and the atmosphere fires inside Old Trafford!

Pressure from United O'Shea, Giggs and Fortune true to work it in from the left

The ball is floated in but Lehmann manages to get both fists to it and clears

Toure fouls Van Nistelrooy, free-kick to United on the right wing which Giggs will take

As a result of more players further forward ther is room behind for Van Nistelrooy, as he did just then! We could be in for more chances this half

Arsenal have committed more players forward and Are putting Phil Neville and Roy Keane under pressure

Arsenal have started far brighter this half and have seized the initiative

Henry takes the corner short to Bergkamp who cross is poorly. The ball is quickly back with Bergkamp who passes back to Henry, but his shot from range is well over the bar

Gilberto Silva tries a shot but it flies out for Arsenal's first corner of the game

Cole crosses from the left wing for Arsenal, but its cleared by Ferdinand

Lehmann gets the chance to try out his new cap with a long clearance, not exactly on target, but could ahve been worse

A real let off for Gery Neville who, one-on-one with Ljungberg on the edge of his area, fails to clear but Ljungberg fell over Neville and Howard claimed the loose ball

Lehmann has got himself a baseball cap to help with the bright low sunshine

Second half back under way and Phil Neville quickly fouls Ljungberg

Can Van Nistelrooy put that bad headed miss behind him and get one in the next 45 minutes? Or will the so far anonymous Henry get his name on the scoresheet? You'll find out here, second half coming up!

Ferguson will be pleased that Arsenal have not asked any real questions of Tim Howard between the sticks, but he will doubtless be frustrated that pressure from his men has not translated into goals.

Wenger will be the happier of the two managers, not only have his team have kept United at bay, but they have shown their mettle after the Inter debacle.

0-0 at the break. Ryan Giggs' freekick, which clipped the post early on, is as close as we've come to a goal.

And there goes the whistle for the interval

Ronaldo again cuts inside from the right and tries a shot, Lehmann though is equal to it, he goes down quick and makes sure he doesn't spill it

Vieria looks like his is losing his cool - maybe halftime will be a blessing

One minute of stoppage time indicated

Yet more poor distribution from Arsenal and no threat is posed

A foul by Keane on Vieira, freekick to Arsenal in the United half, 40 yards out on the right wing

The ball wings its way to Giggs on the left who crosses, but Keown heads clear

Phil Neville withsome great play in the middle of his own half wins the ball and feeds it to, you guessed it, Ronaldo on the right!

Freekick to Arsenal deep in their own half, a long pass is hoisted in but United snuff out the danger

Toure manages to outsprint Giggs, but more signs that the Arsenal defence is prone to quick attacks

Five minutes before the halftime whistle and Arsenal have aquitted themselves well after the midweek nightmare, but not really threatend United

But, again, like most of their attacks today, Arsenal's move breaks down and Howard gathers at his leisure

But like most other corners today, it is wasted and Arsenal clear long

Ronaldo, who is seeing plenty of the ball on the right, fires in a cross which hits Cole on the arm - but the Reds only get a corner

Van Nistelrooy looks a little down-in-the-mouth, perhaps his mini-goal drought is playing on his mind?

Giggs takes but it is headed clear. The Welshman tries to win it back but it out of play on the wing

O'Shea on his first real foray into the Arsenal half wins a corner

A variation from Ronaldo instead of crossing from the right he cuts inside and tries his luck from range, nothing doing this time but what an exciting talent he is

Arsenal fluff their lines at the other end, Henry tried to set up Bergkamp but he spoons his shot woefully high and wide to the delight of Old Trafford

Great pressure from United - Ronaldo crossed from the right but United just could not get a clear shot on goal

A cross from Ronaldo is over-hit and Giggs and Van Nistelrooy have to watch as it goes high over thier heads

Ljungberg passes to Vieria and he to Bergkamp as the Gunners start to look more comfortable

Silvestre gets caught in possession, but the ball is quickly cleared - lucky escpae

One pass too many from Arsenal and Untied soon get a cross in, Quinton Fortune gets his head to it, but the keeper is untroubled

Cole , Ljunberg and Vieira work it on the left

Poor first touch from Van Nistelrooy from a Gary Neville throw and United lose possession

Gary Neville tidies up some danger on the right hand side of the United half, and the Reds try to play keep ball

Arsenal pump a long ball forward, but Howard clears

At the other end after a quick break Ashley Cole has shot and his low drive flashes across the goal, it was wide, but danger signs for United

Ronaldo takes and Lehmann leaps high and punches clear, but he is soon off his line on the right hand extreme of his area to gather a loose ball

The ball is spread wide again to Ronaldo - his cross comes of Cole and United have another corner

Back underway after treatment to Lauren, who is fine.

The referee books Roy Keane for a challenge on Lauren. The ball had gone when the tackle went in, correct decision.

Van Nistelrooy tries a shot from a Giggs cross which drops to him, but it's blocked

Giggs whips in the freekick and Ruud van Nistelrooy, unmarked at the back post heads over the bar when it looked easier to score!!

Silvestre finds Ronaldo with a great diagonal ball to Ronaldo who is then bundled off the ball by the right corner falg - freekick!

Giggs and Ronaldo are causing problems on the right wing combining well - this time Ronaldo is ruled to have fouled Keown

Parlour attempts to whip in a cross from the right, but its out for another United goalkick

A spell of head tennis in midfield finally ends and Henry races clear, but he is ruled offside. Seemed harsh as he was in his own half when he broke free

United try and conjure something down the right wing, but after two throw-ins possession is wasted

At the other end Bergkamp chases down a loose ball, but Howard reacts quickly and clears his lines

Giggs steps up and his shot clips Lehmann's right post and goes out!! Unlucky for Giggs

Gilberto Silva fouls Ronaldo by leaving his leg in when the tricky youngster evades him. Free-kick to United in a dangerous area 35 yards out.

Howard has the ball and United build from the back: Silvestre to Fortune on the left wing, but it breaks down

Vieira and Bergkamp again try to work on overlap on the right, this time for Lauren who fails to get his cross past Silvestre

United win the game's first corner, Giggs takes it short to Ronaldo, but the outcome is an over hit pass and a throw to the visitors

A hint of controversy as Lehmann comes a long way of his line to cut out a pass by Ronaldo to Giggs. The big German caught the ball in the area, but only just!

Bergkamp loses the ball for Arsenal by passing to no one at all - he clearly thought Ljungberg was on the overlap

O'Shea handles the attentions of Ljungberg expertly, distributing the ball with the minimum of fuss out of danger

A mistake by Fortune allows Parlour to get a foot on the ball in midfield, much to Roy Keane annoyance

Toure appeared to foul Ronaldo, but a throw in is the decision

Parlour tries to latch onto the kick but it is just too long for him and it is out for a goalkick

Henry is clipped by Phil Neville and wins a free-kick

An errant pass evades young Ronaldo on United's right flank and Arsenal are back in possession

More early pressure from Arsenal, but sloppy passing allows the United defence to get a foot on the ball and clear

The Arsenal attack breaks done and Howard gathers the loose ball

Bergkamp, playing deep, collects a pass from Vieira and feeds Ljungberg on the right

A long and hopeful ball from the back is won by Vieira, but under a challenge from Silvestre the Gunners' skipper takes the ball out of play on the right wing

A shout of 'Champions, Champions' rings out from the Old Trafford faithful

O'Shea pumps the ball long but Gunners keeper Lehmann gathers

Keane seizes upon a mistake by Bergkamp and wins the ball. The Dutchman tries to win it back but fouls O'Shea, freekick on the halfway line

Giggs straight way tries to dribble throught the Arsenal midfield but is stopped by Parlour and Vieira

Referee Steve Bennett from Kent gets things underway for what is sure to be a fiercely contested game!

The two teams walk onto the pitch to a crescendo of noise befitting a fixture of this magnitude. What a test of character for Arsenal following their emphatic and harrowing 3-0 defeat last week against Inter Milan in the Champions League, can Champions United compound their woes?

For United captain Roy Keane returns to central midfield and will partner Phil Neville, while Cristiano Ronaldo is given another starting role. Keep it here for all the action...

Arsene Wenger has dropped Robert Pires and Sylvain Wiltord, with Ray Parlour and Dennis Bergkamp coming into the side.

Arsenal defender Sol Campbell has ruled himself out of today's game at Old Trafford following the death of his father in midweek. He is replaced in central defence by Martin Keown.

And for Arsenal: Lehmann, Lauren, Toure, Keown, Cole, Parlour, Vieira, Silva, Ljungberg, Bergkamp, Henry. And the Gunners' subs: Stack, Pires, Wiltord, Edu, Cygan.

Today's teams, starting with Manchester United: Howard, Gary Neville, Ferdinand, Silvestre, O'Shea, Ronaldo, Keane, Phil Neville, Fortune, Giggs, van Nistelrooy. Substitutes: Carroll, Butt, Djemba-Djemba, Forlan, Fletcher.

You know the drill. It's a clash of the titans - and one will lead the Premiership come 6pm. Live commentary gets underway at 16.05 BST.

Giggs takes a free-kick on the left, close to the Arsenal byline, but Lehmann calls and gathers

Substitution for United: Forlan on for O'Shea

A grerat run from Vieira results in a near miss and a suspect lineman's flag after a clever ball from Bergkamp

Keane tries to find van Nistelrooy with a dinked pass over the Arsenal back four, but Keown clears

Ljungberg is released again on the right but Ferdinand show quick feet and no little skill to tackle him, and clears

Arsenal break down the right with Ljungberg, he finds Bergkamp, but he passes back

Henry tries to get past Phil Neville but is tackled

He recieves some attention from the physio, but seems to fine and play is back underway with Silvestre

Quinton Fortune is down clutching his face after a challenge on Vieira

Parlour and Bergkamp try and work an opening on the right wing, but the concede defeat against resolute defending and play it back to retain possession

Henry finds himself in space on the lef wing, he fires in a great cross but finds no one is there to try a shot!

Ronaldo tracks back and tackles Cole as he tried to scamper down the Arsenal left, it has been an interesting battle between those two today.

The last quarter of the match approaching and perhaps the managers will be thinking about changes

Howard releases the ball quickly and Giggs gathers before passing to van Nistelrooy, but he loses out to Cole and compunds his mistake by fouling the Arsenal and England left back

Lauren fires in a great cross but Howard jumps and gathers with a calm assurance

Ronaldo does a good job at the back of closing the door on Ashley Cole who is in an advanced position, the defender is forced to play it back

Corner to Arsenal, but there is a foul in the box and United have a freekick, which Howard takes

Quick break from Arsenal but Henry and Parlour pull out of their runs and Ljungberg's pass is wasted

Ronaldo takes the resulting freekick on the left wing, near the corner flag, but it's cleared

Keown gets himself in the book by scything down Quinton Fortune

Good pressure from Arsenal, but an organised United defence means the Gunners are unable to penetrate and the lose the ball by trying to release Ljungberg

Lauren work is to Henry, who spreads ot wide

The kick comes in but it floats away from Vieira who leaps high but connects with thin air

Lauren tries to find Henry after a run down the right and the Gunners win a corner off Ferdinand

Van Nistelrooy turns his marker inside the Arsenal box but his scuffed left foot shot it gathered by Lehmann - he could have passed to Giggs who was unamrked on the edge of the area!

Van Nistelrooy is just edged out by his old pal Keown - exciting stuff and the atmosphere fires inside Old Trafford!

Pressure from United O'Shea, Giggs and Fortune true to work it in from the left

The ball is floated in but Lehmann manages to get both fists to it and clears

Toure fouls Van Nistelrooy, free-kick to United on the right wing which Giggs will take

As a result of more players further forward ther is room behind for Van Nistelrooy, as he did just then! We could be in for more chances this half

Arsenal have committed more players forward and Are putting Phil Neville and Roy Keane under pressure

Arsenal have started far brighter this half and have seized the initiative

Henry takes the corner short to Bergkamp who cross is poorly. The ball is quickly back with Bergkamp who passes back to Henry, but his shot from range is well over the bar

Gilberto Silva tries a shot but it flies out for Arsenal's first corner of the game

Cole crosses from the left wing for Arsenal, but its cleared by Ferdinand

Lehmann gets the chance to try out his new cap with a long clearance, not exactly on target, but could ahve been worse

A real let off for Gery Neville who, one-on-one with Ljungberg on the edge of his area, fails to clear but Ljungberg fell over Neville and Howard claimed the loose ball

Lehmann has got himself a baseball cap to help with the bright low sunshine

Second half back under way and Phil Neville quickly fouls Ljungberg

Can Van Nistelrooy put that bad headed miss behind him and get one in the next 45 minutes? Or will the so far anonymous Henry get his name on the scoresheet? You'll find out here, second half coming up!

Ferguson will be pleased that Arsenal have not asked any real questions of Tim Howard between the sticks, but he will doubtless be frustrated that pressure from his men has not translated into goals.

Wenger will be the happier of the two managers, not only have his team have kept United at bay, but they have shown their mettle after the Inter debacle.

0-0 at the break. Ryan Giggs' freekick, which clipped the post early on, is as close as we've come to a goal.

And there goes the whistle for the interval

Ronaldo again cuts inside from the right and tries a shot, Lehmann though is equal to it, he goes down quick and makes sure he doesn't spill it

Vieria looks like his is losing his cool - maybe halftime will be a blessing

One minute of stoppage time indicated

Yet more poor distribution from Arsenal and no threat is posed

A foul by Keane on Vieira, freekick to Arsenal in the United half, 40 yards out on the right wing

The ball wings its way to Giggs on the left who crosses, but Keown heads clear

Phil Neville withsome great play in the middle of his own half wins the ball and feeds it to, you guessed it, Ronaldo on the right!

Freekick to Arsenal deep in their own half, a long pass is hoisted in but United snuff out the danger

Toure manages to outsprint Giggs, but more signs that the Arsenal defence is prone to quick attacks

Five minutes before the halftime whistle and Arsenal have aquitted themselves well after the midweek nightmare, but not really threatend United

But, again, like most of their attacks today, Arsenal's move breaks down and Howard gathers at his leisure

But like most other corners today, it is wasted and Arsenal clear long

Ronaldo, who is seeing plenty of the ball on the right, fires in a cross which hits Cole on the arm - but the Reds only get a corner

Van Nistelrooy looks a little down-in-the-mouth, perhaps his mini-goal drought is playing on his mind?

Giggs takes but it is headed clear. The Welshman tries to win it back but it out of play on the wing

O'Shea on his first real foray into the Arsenal half wins a corner

A variation from Ronaldo instead of crossing from the right he cuts inside and tries his luck from range, nothing doing this time but what an exciting talent he is

Arsenal fluff their lines at the other end, Henry tried to set up Bergkamp but he spoons his shot woefully high and wide to the delight of Old Trafford

Great pressure from United - Ronaldo crossed from the right but United just could not get a clear shot on goal

A cross from Ronaldo is over-hit and Giggs and Van Nistelrooy have to watch as it goes high over thier heads

Ljungberg passes to Vieria and he to Bergkamp as the Gunners start to look more comfortable

Silvestre gets caught in possession, but the ball is quickly cleared - lucky escpae

One pass too many from Arsenal and Untied soon get a cross in, Quinton Fortune gets his head to it, but the keeper is untroubled

Cole , Ljunberg and Vieira work it on the left

Poor first touch from Van Nistelrooy from a Gary Neville throw and United lose possession

Gary Neville tidies up some danger on the right hand side of the United half, and the Reds try to play keep ball

Arsenal pump a long ball forward, but Howard clears

At the other end after a quick break Ashley Cole has shot and his low drive flashes across the goal, it was wide, but danger signs for United

Ronaldo takes and Lehmann leaps high and punches clear, but he is soon off his line on the right hand extreme of his area to gather a loose ball

The ball is spread wide again to Ronaldo - his cross comes of Cole and United have another corner

Back underway after treatment to Lauren, who is fine.

The referee books Roy Keane for a challenge on Lauren. The ball had gone when the tackle went in, correct decision.

Van Nistelrooy tries a shot from a Giggs cross which drops to him, but it's blocked

Giggs whips in the freekick and Ruud van Nistelrooy, unmarked at the back post heads over the bar when it looked easier to score!!

Silvestre finds Ronaldo with a great diagonal ball to Ronaldo who is then bundled off the ball by the right corner falg - freekick!

Giggs and Ronaldo are causing problems on the right wing combining well - this time Ronaldo is ruled to have fouled Keown

Parlour attempts to whip in a cross from the right, but its out for another United goalkick

A spell of head tennis in midfield finally ends and Henry races clear, but he is ruled offside. Seemed harsh as he was in his own half when he broke free

United try and conjure something down the right wing, but after two throw-ins possession is wasted

At the other end Bergkamp chases down a loose ball, but Howard reacts quickly and clears his lines

Giggs steps up and his shot clips Lehmann's right post and goes out!! Unlucky for Giggs

Gilberto Silva fouls Ronaldo by leaving his leg in when the tricky youngster evades him. Free-kick to United in a dangerous area 35 yards out.

Howard has the ball and United build from the back: Silvestre to Fortune on the left wing, but it breaks down

Vieira and Bergkamp again try to work on overlap on the right, this time for Lauren who fails to get his cross past Silvestre

United win the game's first corner, Giggs takes it short to Ronaldo, but the outcome is an over hit pass and a throw to the visitors

A hint of controversy as Lehmann comes a long way of his line to cut out a pass by Ronaldo to Giggs. The big German caught the ball in the area, but only just!

Bergkamp loses the ball for Arsenal by passing to no one at all - he clearly thought Ljungberg was on the overlap

O'Shea handles the attentions of Ljungberg expertly, distributing the ball with the minimum of fuss out of danger

A mistake by Fortune allows Parlour to get a foot on the ball in midfield, much to Roy Keane annoyance

Toure appeared to foul Ronaldo, but a throw in is the decision

Parlour tries to latch onto the kick but it is just too long for him and it is out for a goalkick

Henry is clipped by Phil Neville and wins a free-kick

An errant pass evades young Ronaldo on United's right flank and Arsenal are back in possession

More early pressure from Arsenal, but sloppy passing allows the United defence to get a foot on the ball and clear

The Arsenal attack breaks done and Howard gathers the loose ball

Bergkamp, playing deep, collects a pass from Vieira and feeds Ljungberg on the right

A long and hopeful ball from the back is won by Vieira, but under a challenge from Silvestre the Gunners' skipper takes the ball out of play on the right wing

A shout of 'Champions, Champions' rings out from the Old Trafford faithful

O'Shea pumps the ball long but Gunners keeper Lehmann gathers

Keane seizes upon a mistake by Bergkamp and wins the ball. The Dutchman tries to win it back but fouls O'Shea, freekick on the halfway line

Giggs straight way tries to dribble throught the Arsenal midfield but is stopped by Parlour and Vieira

Referee Steve Bennett from Kent gets things underway for what is sure to be a fiercely contested game!

The two teams walk onto the pitch to a crescendo of noise befitting a fixture of this magnitude. What a test of character for Arsenal following their emphatic and harrowing 3-0 defeat last week against Inter Milan in the Champions League, can Champions United compound their woes?

For United captain Roy Keane returns to central midfield and will partner Phil Neville, while Cristiano Ronaldo is given another starting role. Keep it here for all the action...

Arsene Wenger has dropped Robert Pires and Sylvain Wiltord, with Ray Parlour and Dennis Bergkamp coming into the side.

Arsenal defender Sol Campbell has ruled himself out of today's game at Old Trafford following the death of his father in midweek. He is replaced in central defence by Martin Keown.

And for Arsenal: Lehmann, Lauren, Toure, Keown, Cole, Parlour, Vieira, Silva, Ljungberg, Bergkamp, Henry. And the Gunners' subs: Stack, Pires, Wiltord, Edu, Cygan.

Today's teams, starting with Manchester United: Howard, Gary Neville, Ferdinand, Silvestre, O'Shea, Ronaldo, Keane, Phil Neville, Fortune, Giggs, van Nistelrooy. Substitutes: Carroll, Butt, Djemba-Djemba, Forlan, Fletcher.

You know the drill. It's a clash of the titans - and one will lead the Premiership come 6pm. Live commentary gets underway at 16.05 BST.