A Pizza The Edge Is Missing

For nearly a decade the giants of North London and Manchester locked horns as each others fiercest rival. However with just twenty four hours to go until United and Arsenal meet at Old Trafford a strange calm has broken out.

As Chelsea try to gorge themselves at the Premiership's top table a strange and unexpected mutual respect has broken out between Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson. These are two men who were born to be winners, and both posess a special single-mindedness that dictates they will never be the closest of pals. But each knows that Abramovich's billions have changed the nature of their meetings.

Wenger seems relaxed and jokey in his approach to the match, joking about the catering — “we get food and maybe pizza, I don’t know”. There is a school of thought that he will plump for a five man midfield as he seeks to turn around a nervous, winless start to the league campaign.

"I think it is a transitional period for Arsenal because they have lost big players like Vieira, Bergkamp, Pires and Ashley Cole," Ferguson said. "We have lost big players in the past and you have to be patient and prepare for the next stage of development." This is not the usual verbal sparring we have come to expect from the combatants.

The psychological edge that both men sought for so long is no longer deemed to be crucial to the outcome. There is a lamenting taking place that the likes of Keane and Vieira will no longer be the focal point of the 'two tribes'. There is, however, still sufficient bite in both camps to ensure a fiercely competitive contest tomorrow. Perhaps it is Wenger who makes the most telling observation, “A game between Arsenal and Man United that is not committed will be a disappointing game,” he said.