Welcome to LIVE coverage of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford. We'll have teams imminently.

FYI: I'll be pronouncing Giroud 'Zhi-roo' and Cazorla 'Ca-thor-la' in this text commentary.

Game time approaches - time for another quick hello. I'm Alex Chick, and will be describing today's action. You can follow me on Twitter if you want to puff up my ego - @alexchick81

MORE STATS! There have been nine penalties in the Premier League meetings between Arsenal and Manchester United in the Wenger era (seven for United, two for Arsenal); all at Old Trafford and five have been missed. Eight of those penalties have come in the last nine meetings between United and Arsenal at Old Trafford. The Gunners have scored just 10 goals in 20 Premier League visits to Old Trafford, with last season (2-8 defeat) being the only time they have netted two in one game.

STAT 1: Manchester United have won seven and lost none of the last eight matches against Arsenal at Old Trafford in all competitions. Last season, Manchester United inflicted Arsenal’s biggest ever defeat in the Premier League when they won 8-2 at Old Trafford.

Fergie giving little away in his pre-match interview on Sky. Said he hasn't spoken to Van Persie about playing against his old club. And frankly, why would he need to?

A quick look at the Premier League table - United are second, a point behind leaders Chelsea. Arsenal lie six points further adrift in sixth position. Despite conceding five at Reading in midweek, the Gunners boast the best defensive record in the division.

Arsene Wenger has also called on Arsenal fans not to abuse Van Persie: "We cannot promote respect and then say 'look it is respectful on Saturday'. I hope it (reception) is a respectful one because he has played for us for eight years, and he has done very well for us. We campaign against discrimination, it was still the case last week so why should it not be the case this week?" Again, some hope.

Alex Ferguson has called on Arsenal fans to show Robin van Persie respect.: "I think, if you think about all the former players who have come back to Old Trafford, they always get a warm applause. I don't think he'll have a problem. I think the fans will recognise the eight years he gave them and I think that will be nice." Some hope.

Time for a bit more news from today's teams. United had an injury setback yesterday when it was announced that Nemanja Vidic will be out until Christmas with his knee injury.

Still trawling the internet, the following sign has been spotted outside a pub near Highbury & Islington station (The Famous Cock, I'm guessing).

Eurosport-Yahoo!'s Tom Adams, an Arsenal fan, has just tweeted the following: "Prediction: 90 minutes of agony."

More interesting comments from Alex Ferguson in his programme notes, which feature strong support for Mark Clattenburg after last Sunday's events at Chelsea: : "I felt every sympathy for Mark Clattenburg at Chelsea. He was pilloried and didn't deserve it." That relates to his controversial decisions rather than the Mikel incident.

Looking at those teams, you'd have to think the biggest tactical mismatch is down the United right, where Antonio Valencia gets to run at the defensively suspect Andre Santos. The selection of Aaron Ramsey ahead of Welcott does give Arsenal a little extra stability, however.

So there's confirmation that Robin van Persie comes up against his former side. No real surprises in either team selection. United stick with the wide men that damaged Chelsea last week, while there is no place in the Arsenal team for Theo Walcott despite his hat-trick against Reading in midweek.

TEAMS: MANCHESTER UNITED: De Gea, Rafael, Evra, Ferdinand, Evans, Valencia, Carrick, Young, Cleverley, Rooney, van Persie. SUBS: Lindegaard, Anderson, Hernandez, Nani, Scholes, Powell, Wootton. /// ARSENAL: Mannone, Sagna, Santos, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Arteta, Wilshere, Ramsey, Cazorla, Podolski, Giroud. SUBS: Martinez, Koscielny, Walcott, Coquelin, Arshavin, Jenkinson, Chamakh.

In the meantime, hello, my name's Alex Chick. I'll be live texting this game, Tottenham-Wigan and West Ham-Man City. A shortcut to RSI if ever one existed. You can get in touch with me on Twitter - @alexchick81