“Both are big clubs and every year the club wants to win trophies.” There is, nevertheless, a fundamental difference “I think we have played fantastic football,” Vieira said “Better than last year We have taken it to another level. That’s why we deserve to win a trophy.”Last season was when Arsenal constructed their fabulous unbeaten sequence – a run which notoriously ended, after 49 League matches, last autumn at Old Trafford That was hard to take And not just because it was United who inflicted it. It’s difficult.”As was the February defeat at Highbury, after that tunnel spat, which stretched United’s unbeaten run over Arsenal in competitive matches to seven. If Vieira can claim “luck” has been on United’s side in some of those contests and that “small decisions make a big difference”, he also concedes “at Highbury, yes, they were much better than us. They were really strong and really composed as a team and deserved to win the game But we will be waiting on Saturday. Don’t worry.”Vieira said he “doesn’t know” what to expect from United this time round. Four or five years ago, Vieira would have retaliated and been sent off, said Arsenal manager Ars? Wenger.”You learn a lot from your mistakes and of course I did make mistakes over the years and I learned from it,” Vieira said of the nine red cards he has received at Arsenal.

“Being captain of the club gives me more responsibility and the way I behave as a captain is really important. It’s why I am more careful now in the way that I react.” He believes he is still targeted “Yes, I think so,” Vieira added “But I take it in the right way They do it because of the way I am playing. “We were in a position in which when we went onto the pitch, our belief and our confidence was so high and of course you go on to the pitch knowing that you will win the game,” Vieira said Losing shattered that confidence “We took time to respond. We took time to win games and of course that’s why we lost the plot to retain the championship We took too long to get back into it. Sometimes in football you find yourself in this position and you cannot explain. He is also, temperamentally, better equipped than ever, citing his ability not to react to Blackburn Rovers’ aggressive tactics in the cup semi-final as compelling evidence.

“This is his first season in the Premiership and you learn a lot. He can’t wait for Saturday.”Neither can his captain, despite the persistent ankle injury which has hampered a season in which he admits his performance levels have dropped “I don’t think I was near to my best,” Vieira said In himself he is happier, more content. The accusation is that the Spanish international has been targeted and wasn’t able to withstand that. Vieira was adamant that even if that is the case, his team-mate is prepared this time “He’s ready for it,” Vieira stated.