Attack-minded Arsenal takes on Man. United

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Apr 29, 2009

[UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] Arsenal will be less than full strength up front, but Manager Arsene Wenger says the Gunners will be out to attack Manchester United when they meet at Old Trafford on Wednesday in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal series (TV: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, 2:30 pm ET).

Andrei Arshavin, who scored four goals last week against Liverpool, is cup-tied, having played earlier in the competition for Zenit St. Petersburg, and Dutchman Robin van Persie, who had a goal and assist in Arsenal's 3-0 win over Villarreal two weeks ago, is injured.

"We will go there with belief," Wenger said of the trip to Old Trafford. "We will go there like we do everywhere in Europe to try to score and win."

Arsenal's attack has been on fire in recent weeks, scoring 14 goals in five games.

United, which scored five goals in 22 minutes on Saturday against Tottenham, should be close to full strength. It will be only missing captain Gary Neville.

The game will mark the 800th appearance for Ryan Giggs with Manchester United.

"They don't come much bigger than a Champions League semifinal at Old Trafford," the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year said, "and I am looking forward to it, but I am more interested in beating Arsenal rather than the 800th appearance."

Probable lineups:
Manchester United: 1-van der Sar; 22-O'Shea, 5-Ferdinand, 15-Vidic, 3-Evra; 8-Anderson, 16-Carrick, 11-Giggs; 7-Cristiano Ronaldo, 9-Berbatov, 10-Rooney.
Arsenal: l-Almunia; 27-Eboue, 5-Toure, 20-Djourou, 40-Gibbs; 14-Walcott, 17-Song, 8-Nasri, 4-Fabregas; 25-Adebayor, 26-Bendtner.
Referee: Claus Bo Larsen (Denmark).