Arsenal [Images] defender Sol Campbell described the rivalry between his team and Manchester United [Images] as bitter and personal.

Plenty of ill-feeling has been stirred up by past meetings, most recently in the so-called Battle of the Buffet at Old Trafford in October, and the two sides clash again in Tuesday's English Premier League encounter at Highbury.

"Everyone at Arsenal has been waiting for this game," Campbell told the Guardian newspaper on Monday. "We are up for this one.

"We know we have to win. A draw does nothing for us or them, so it's very intense. After all that's happened, if we beat them it will be one of our sweetest ever wins, especially because of how we lost to them up there [Old Trafford].

"It is just more bitter and personal against United," added Campbell. "There's an edge. Maybe a little bit of the old north-south divide as well."

MINI-CRISIS

United's 2-0 victory in October ended Arsenal's record 49-match unbeaten league run and triggered a mini-crisis in which Arsene Wenger's men won only three of their next 10 games.

Off the pitch at Old Trafford, Alex Ferguson was reportedly pelted with pizza in the players' tunnel, sparking a furore re-ignited recently by the United manager.

"It [the 2-0 defeat] had a psychological impact on us, but again because of the way we were defeated," said Campbell in a reference to a controversial penalty award for United's first goal.

"That was far more upsetting, losing like that, because they [United] just seem to get away with it. You try and balance out over the course of a season but I've had so many rough decisions against them you begin to wonder."

As if extra spice was needed, Tuesday's game will give the winners a valuable edge in the race to finish second behind Chelsea, who are 10 points clear at the top, and claim the other automatic place in next season's Champions League.

With second-placed Arsenal one point ahead of United, a win for the Londoners would give them a useful cushion.

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