There may be new, blue money over to the west of London and the east of Manchester. But this is a fixture which bristles with old-school tradition; a fixture which has become one of the Premier League's enduring themes.

It's a game which has long been overseen by the guiding hands of Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger playing out a rivalry that has encompassed their mutual dislike and, more recently, grudging respect. For the record, this will be the 47th time that the two managers have locked horns - and Fergie edges it 21 wins to 16.

At times, this fixture has thrown up games so good they border on high art. On other occasions, it's been about throwing pizza. Savour the personalities and personality clashes resonating through the years: Wright and Schmeichel, Keown and Van Nistelrooy, Keane and Vieira. If Scholes and Henry play, it'll be just like the good old days.

Over the Fergie/Wenger years they have played out title deciders, FA Cup semi-finals and a final - and a Champions League semi-final. In recent years, United have had the clear advantage - winning seven and losing just one of the last nine meetings, culminating in the 8-2 humiliation for Arsenal in August.

Uncharacteristically, United seemed to take their eye off the ball against Blackburn and Newcastle and let slip a great opportunity to apply pressure on City at the top. There are still doubts about this team, particularly defensively, and after playing Arsenal they will take on Liverpool in the FA Cup, Stoke, Chelsea and Liverpool again in the league, and then Ajax in the Europa League. That's the kind of run designed to sort out the men from the boys, the kind of challenge Ferguson's teams normally thrive on.

Meantime, Arsenal's dreaded inconsistency has returned with a vengeance. Back-to-back league losses at Fulham and Swansea have infuriated Wenger, particularly after they worked so hard to make up lost ground on the top four. What represents a good result for United and Arsenal? That may be determined by the outcome of the earlier Manchester City versus Tottenham game - but, suffice to say, this has never been a game to lose.

Head-to-head




• The last meeting between the two clubs - United's 8-2 Premier League victory on 28 August at Old Trafford last year - was the highest-scoring of any of their 214 matches since 1894.



• Overall, United have won 89 of those matches - 10 more than Arsenal.



• Since Arsenal left Highbury in May 2006, they have beaten United at the Emirates three times, lost twice, and drawn once (all competitions).



• United last did the double over Arsenal in the 2009-10 season.



Arsenal


• Arsenal come into the match having suffered back-to-back league defeats for the second time this season.



• Arsene Wenger's side have now lost a Premier League match from a leading position on three occasions so far. Only West Brom have fared as badly.



• The Gunners have used the highest number of players in the Premier League this season (30).



• Robin van Persie has scored 18 Premier League goals this season - equalling his best-ever total in a league season.



Man Utd


• United have the best away record in the Premier League. At this stage last season they were top of the table, but only had the fourth-best away record.



• The Red Devils have gone 40 league matches without taking part in a goalless draw.



• Wayne Rooney has missed two consecutive Premier League penalties. In total, he has missed six of 14 career Premier League penalties (including four of his last eight).



• Midfielder Paul Scholes has now scored 151 goals for the club (all competitions), making him their outright 10th highest-ever scorer (moving ahead of Ruud van Nistelrooy's 150).