Scholes and Ljungberg have capacity for summit strike

The danger men are Van Nistelrooy and Henry but two midfielders may decide the destiny of the title at Highbury tonight

When it comes to match-winners, Dame Fortune does not always anoint the obvious. It was Michael Thomas, not Alan Smith or Paul Merson, who was the man who vaulted through Liverpool's defence to win the most dramatic of all title deciders, at Anfield in 1989.

Fourteen years on Arsenal are involved in another match likely to determine, if not actually decide, the destiny of the championship. The shortest odds at the bookies are for Ruud van Nistelrooy and Thierry Henry, but the canny punter might look a little further down the list to Paul Scholes and Fredrik Ljungberg.

These attacking midfielders are running into form with the same fine timing they judge their runs, blind-siding defenders to be at the right place, at the right time.

Scholes' treble at St James' Park will have reminded Arsenal of his efficacy, but United should not ignore Ljungberg's appearance on the scoresheet during Arsenal's last two matches. Each side may also remember that both scored in this fixture last season, when Fabien Barthez handed Arsenal a 3-1 victory. Not that their games are all about goals. Scholes has remained a valuable member of the England side despite failing to score since June 2001. Their ability to strike at the most telling of moments has, though, been hugely valuable and could be so again tonight.

If so it would be a reward, in Ljungberg's case, for perseverance after a season disrupted by illness and injury. Initially troubled with a hip problem which pre-dated the World Cup he missed the start of the season, came back to no great effect in September, and was then absent again either side of Christmas. When he finally returned it was not just the haircut which no longer stood out. A peripheral figure he was, for once, a victim of bad timing when a saccharine television portrait portrayed him as Highbury's darling, Henry's magnetic virtuosity apparently overlooked.

While on international duty Ljungberg was then caught on camera, at an early hour, out on the town with a girlfriend. Ljungberg was not drinking but his glare at the cameraman indicated his displeasure and his guilt. The Swedish management were equally unimpressed and Ljungberg was disciplined.

This is not a situation Scholes is ever likely to find himself in. His hair colouring is natural, his private life private, his nights dedicated to Claire, the schoolyard girlfriend who became his wife, and two young children. Salford-born and locally reared he carries a flame for Oldham watching them when he can.

His low profile was one reason why his refusal, last autumn, to travel to Highbury for a Worthington Cup game caused such a stir. Scholes, already unhappy about being played out of position to accommodate Juan Sebastian Veron, felt he was being made a scapegoat for a drubbing at Anfield the previous day and failed to report for the bus south. "I've regretted it since," he said later. "I caused a few problems for myself. I didn't see it as standing up to the manager. I felt I was standing up for myself. I did feel as if I was being messed about."

Scholes, who now feels his response was "stupid", was spoken to by the United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson and fined a week's wages. Case closed. However, the positional changes continued and Scholes adapted, both to playing in the hole and, as on Saturday, on the left.

Ferguson is not surprised, not for nothing did he describe Scholes as having "one of the best football brains this club has ever seen". Others have been equally complimentary, especially England. He has missed just two competitive internationals, both through suspension, in five years. Glenn Hoddle compared him to Gianfranco Zola, Kevin Keegan adored him and he is one of Sven Goran Eriksson's "crown jewels". As for his opponents, Edgar Davids thinks he is the best midfielder in the world.

One recurring criticism is that, given this ability, he does not dominate matches as he should, as Zinedine Zidane, another known for his football not his celebrity, does. His anonymity against Greece, in the decisive World Cup qualifier, and Brazil, in Japan, are among examples cited. It is suggested this reflects a personality which, unlike Beckham, lacks the arrogance of champions. Scholes never reads criticism, or praise and tonight, as against Scotland in the Euro 2000 play-off, Argentina in Sapporo and Internazionale in Milan, he will seek to let his football do the talking. That is unless Ljungberg, drifting in from the wing, behind Rio Ferdinand and on to Dennis Bergkamp's pass, does not have the final word.

HOW THE PREMIERSHIP TITLE CONTENDERS COMPARE

GOALKEEPING

Arsenal: David Seaman proved on Sunday that he remains capable, at 39, of the match-winning save. Experienced, calm and imposing but signs of vulnerability in the air.

Manchester United: Fabien Barthez is as gymnastic and confident as they come. Proven winner with excellent distribution, but prone to carelessness and can get rattled.

Arsenal 8 Manchester United 8

DEFENCE

Arsenal: Only Martin Keown survives from the back four of old and he remains important for while Sol Campbell has filled Tony Adams' boots defensively and physically, he lacks his predecessor's mental command. On the flanks, Ashley Cole is excellent going forward but still learning his defensive positioning while Lauren does a job but no more.

Manchester United: Rio Ferdinand is still to justify his fee and, like Wes Brown, can lose concentration. They are, though, far better distributors than their Arsenal counterparts. Gary Neville remains England's best full-back on either flank while Mikaël Silvestre has overcome an inconsistent start to prosper at the back and going forward.

Arsenal 8 Manchester United 8

MIDFIELD

Arsenal: Patrick Vieira is now the Premiership's dominant midfielder but he has injuries to both knees. Gilberto Silva appears close to exhaustion and Robert Pires has been injured. Fredrik Ljungberg is at least, and at last, fit and rediscovering his form.

Manchester United: The midfield has been at the heart of United's success for a decade but Roy Keane is fading and both David Beckham and Ryan Giggs have suffered criticism. Yet the wide men have been better than their notices suggest. Nicky Butt is there to support Keane, and Paul Scholes is back in goalscoring form.

Arsenal 8 Manchester United 9

ATTACK

Arsenal: The genius of Thierry Henry has been peerless this season but Ruud van Nistelrooy has scored more goals, Henry's attempted chip late in Sunday's semi-final confirming the suspicion he is as interested in style as substance. Still, his partnership with Dennis Bergkamp remains the most potent in the game.

Manchester United: Sometimes he looks a cart-horse, sometimes a thoroughbred, but no one can deny Van Nistelrooy's instinct for goals. For such a heavy scorer he is also a surprisingly unselfish leader of the line.

Arsenal 9 Manchester United 9

REINFORCEMENTS

Arsenal: No worries about Stuart Taylor but Arsenal fans will hope Pascal Cygan is not required. Ray Parlour's energy and experience could prove useful while Sylvain Wiltord looks as if his game is returning and Francis Jeffers is always capable of poaching a penalty.

Manchester United: Reserves looked thin earlier this season but not now. John O'Shea, the resurgent Phil Neville and Ole Gunner Solskjaer could all argue their right to start though Diego Forlan has faded again and Ricardo is largely untried.

Arsenal 8 Manchester United 8

MANAGERS

Sir Alex Ferguson's deployment of Phil Neville tipped the balance in the League meeting at Old Trafford, but Arsène Wenger took the FA Cup tie with his decision to narrow and flood the midfield. In their contrasting styles both have tried and failed to unsettle the other.

Arsenal 9 Manchester United 9

FORM

Arsenal have hit the wall, their glorious autumn football now seen only in patches. But their fallback position, dogged determination, is a powerful one. United are in top gear, crushing Newcastle to make it six successive Premiership wins. Once eight points behind they have the chance to go six points clear. Real Madrid, however, exposed real limitations.

Arsenal 7 Manchester United 8

VERDICT

The marks suggest United but the margin, 59-57, is too narrow to be conclusive especially as the match is at Highbury. This is not Championship Manager 4. These players are human, with mental doubts and physical injuries. Victory will go to the team which holds their nerve, plays to potential and, maybe, scrambles some fortune.

United's form suggest this will be them but, as Real Madrid found in San Sebastian on Sunday, it is very difficult to produce two stellar performances in succession. This season's Old Trafford matches suggest the game will be won in midfield which makes team selection, and choice of tactics, crucial.

Assessment by Glenn Moore