It's quite a role reversal for the two teams. Last year, with 10 games gone, United were top with 24 points and Arsenal were seventh with 15.

The stakes, especially for Manchester United, have never been higher so early in a season.

With just 10 games gone, the champions find themselves in eighth place — eight points adrift of Arsenal who have romped to the top of the table with a blistering run of form. While football pundits and even Arsenal fans themselves have been cautious of being carried away by the show, they are well aware that a win at Old Trafford will well and truly make them top contenders for the Premier League title.

While the table in a league burgeoning with competitive sides (we've all read about how 'anyone can win the title this season') can rapidly change, a win for Arsenal would mean keeping their five-point lead over Chelsea and leaving United trailing by 11 points — languishing somewhere in mid-table — ironically where David Moyes' previous side Everton also reside. So if nothing else, Moyes will be feeling right at home right now.

It's quite a role reversal for the two teams. Last year, with 10 games gone, United were top with 24 points and Arsenal were seventh with 15.

Given Ferguson's absence and a lethargic showing from United until now, a lot of quarters have played down the early season fixture. But the teams and people involved in it have been around for a long time to know its real importance. United have played Arsenal more often than any rival and the two managers — Wenger and Moyes have been in the English game for more than a decade than to take it lightly.

"It will be a bit strange," Wenger told a news conference on Friday when asked about the absence of the man who led United to 13 league titles.

"Now we meet each other only at the big managers' meeting to speak about how we can improve football and not how can Manchester United beat Arsenal or how Arsenal can beat Man United. So of course it will be a bit more peaceful and more serene."

Moyes can only hope that Wenger's mindset oozes onto his team — because the Scotsman is desperate to get a big scalp after a quarter of the season is gone. His record however, isn't as impressive against The Professor — he has faced him 17 times and won only twice (10 losses, five draws).

Another factor who's been around in the rivalry is Ryan Giggs and the Welshman followed suit by playing down the match and Arsenal's title credentials: "It's still relatively early in the season. I think around Christmas, around the new year historically, you see where you are and where other teams are, then try to push on for that."

However, the 39-year-old admitted that it would be a tough match: "It is the big match. Arsenal is the form team. They had a very good week, beating Liverpool, beating Dortmund."

Wenger's side may well see the return of Mathieu Flamini to protect their back four, allowing Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey to wreak havoc in the attacking half.

It may be harsh to count United out of the fixture — especially with their eight-match unbeaten run — but they've been far from their sharp lethal selves and have been pushed over with ease by lesser teams.

And while Arsenal's resurgence has nothing to do with Ferguson's absence, United's form is certainly down to the wholesale changes in staff if not personnel.

There has never been a better time to beat them on their patch — and never a better time to make it count.

Team News

Jonny Evans and Michael Carrick will be assessed before the game but but Danny Welbeck is certainly out of reckoning.

For Arsenal, Mathieu Flamini will be fit despite a recent groin problem, while Jack Wilshere's ankle injury will be assessed.

The long-term injury table remains the same — Theo Walcott, Yaya Sanogo, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lukas Podolski and Abou Diaby.

You can follow the writer on Twitter @TheFalseNo9