Frank Stapleton expects another fiery clash after Man United were drawn against Arsenal in the FA Cup.
Frank Stapleton is expecting a fiery clash when Manchester United host Arsenal in the FA Cup, but feels United will benefit from home advantage.
Stapleton played for Arsenal in the late 1970s and famously scored against United in an epic Cup Final in 1979, before joining the Old Trafford club outfit in 1982.
And after his two former clubs were pitted against each other in the fifth round of the FA Cup, Stapleton said United will have a minor advantage because they are at home.
He told
Sky Sports News: "Everybody felt after the weekend's games that two of the big four were going to meet each other and that's the way it's turned out.
"It is a tremendous tie and it stands out from all the others. Who is going to win it - that's another question?
"It's a great competition and you just feel that when you get to this stage you want the home draw. If you are going to get a big team, then you want to be drawn at home - as Manchester United have on this occasion - and that will give them a slight advantage.
"But it's a one-off game and we saw Tottenham play very, very well against them on Sunday and they could have won it. In the end, Manchester United's superior finishing won the game for them."
Angry exchanges
There have been some angry exchanges when these two teams have played each other, including the famous 'battle of the buffet' in 2004, the 0-0 draw in 2003 when Arsenal's players abused Ruud van Nistelrooy after he missed a late penalty and a 20-man brawl which in 1990, which led to points deductions for both clubs.
And Stapleton has urged the FA to appoint a strong referee to make sure matters do not get out of hand in the forthcoming game.
He continued: "All the attributes are there for a great game and we're all looking forward to it.
"The two teams have stepped over the mark on a couple of occasions and it is up to the FA to put a strong referee in there, who can handle it. But I think both clubs are very aware of their responsibility to the game and to the spectacle that it is going to be.
"It's going to be broadcast worldwide and it will be competitive, and you don't want to take the edge out of it, but it needs to be within the laws of the game."
There have been some classic cup clashes between these sides in the past including the 1999 semi-final victory for United when Ryan Giggs scored a sensational extra-time winner.
And Stapleton admitted that United fans won't let him forget his role in the 1979 final as Arsenal snatched a dramatic late victory
"Every time these two teams play, then somebody mentions that game," Stapleton continued. "Manchester United fans always bring it up.
"And I also think back to the semi-final in 1999 as well when Ryan Giggs scored that wonderful goal and Peter Schmeichel saved a penalty.
"It's very rarely that we get a poor match between these two teams and under Arsene Wenger, Arsenal have certainly been very enterprising. When they come up against Manchester United the big rivalry is there, but both teams want to entertain and score goals."
