ENGLISH FA CUP: Alex Ferguson insists his Manchester United team will be taking the FA Cup seriously this season as they try to win the competition for the first time since 1999.
United were embroiled in controversy when they decided not to defend the trophy in the 1999-2000 season to compete in the World Club Championship in Brazil. Since then they have suffered a series of early exits from the competition, fuelling a belief that Ferguson no longer takes it seriously.
But as he prepares his side for tomorrow's testing third round tie at Aston Villa, he insists it is still a high priority.
"It hasn't changed for us. We like to be involved in it but we have had difficult draws in the last five years, Middlesbrough away, Villa twice," Ferguson said. "We have some stinking draws. In the FA Cup you like a home draw but we haven't got it, so it makes it more difficult for us to get over this one at Villa Park.
"Any trophy is special. Winning trophies in England is not easy. There are a lot of big clubs vying for the same thing. We all want to win it. Sometimes your name is on it and that is what we hope for this year."
United won at Villa Park at the same stage in 2002 when they came from 2-0 goals behind with 13 minutes to go and two goals from Ruud van Nistelrooy eventually clinched a 3-2 victory.
Arsenal, meanwhile, begin their quest to become the first club since Blackburn Rovers in 1886 to win the FA Cup three years in succession with a tough tie against Leeds United at Elland Road, also tomorrow.
The Gunners, who defeated Southampton 1-0 in last season's final to lift the trophy for the ninth time, will not want to slip up despite chasing glory on four fronts.
"We would love to make history," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. "And I believe we could have done it already. We have already been in three successive finals and the one we really deserved to win was three years ago against Liverpool when we lost.
"That was one of our biggest disappointments and it really hurt. I think that is one of the reasons we have done so well recently in this Cup because when you are frustrated and angry you come back even stronger.
Arsenal have not lost to domestic opposition this season but will be wary of a Leeds side who have improved under caretaker boss Eddie Gray, despite a 3-1 reverse at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday that kept them in the relegation zone.
The teams last met in the Cup in the 1996-1997 season when a goal from Rod Wallace gave Leeds a 1-0 win in a fourth-round tie at Highbury.
There are three other all-Premiership clashes. Southampton take on Newcastle United, Birmingham City are at home to Blackburn Rovers, and Manchester City entertain Leicester City.
Liverpool will need no reminding that third division Yeovil are the most famous of all FA Cup giant-killers, having beaten 20 league clubs before being promoted to the football league in 2003. Yeovil will earn a cash windfall from the televised game and will have nothing to lose at their Huish Park home.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is a major doubt for the game after suffering a thigh injury in the 2-2 draw at Manchester City on Sunday.
As ever in the world's oldest cup competition there is the potential for upsets, particularly at White Hart Lane where a struggling Tottenham Hotspur outfit will be taking on first division Crystal Palace.
David Moyes's Everton side will also face a stern test from first division leaders Norwich City, while Wolverhampton, bottom of the Premiership, visit third division Kidderminster Harriers.
