Alex Ferguson is hopeful Manchester United's second-half performance at Celtic last night will pave the way for victory over Arsenal in Saturday lunch-time's Premier League clash. Although it took United 84 minutes to break down Celtic's stubborn resistance at Parkhead, their dominance after half-time fully merited a 1-1 draw.

And the manner of the Red Devils' play, which improved dramatically once record signing Dimitar Berbatov had been introduced at the break, leads Ferguson to belief United can register their first win at the Emirates Stadium.

"The result does no harm, of course," said Ferguson. "We didn't lose and the performance in the second half was the most encouraging thing. We are ready for a big game on Saturday now."

Ferguson left Berbatov, Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra out of his starting line-up in readiness for the crunch meeting with Arsene Wenger's out-of-form side. And although all three were eventually introduced as United battled for a result that leaves them on the verge of a place in the last 16, the Red Devils chief ultimately felt his decision had been justified.

"It's never easy picking teams with the squad we've got but I managed to rest Patrice Evra even if doing the same with Dimitar and Wayne Rooney was more difficult," he said. "But I felt when we did bring Berbatov on and it gave them another problem.

"The positions he picks up are very difficult to pinpoint."

Unless United lose to Villarreal in three weeks' time and Aalborg beat Celtic and go on to win at Old Trafford by four goals, the Old Trafford outfit will take the defence of their trophy into 2009.

But Ferguson is not content just to make it through. He wants to win Group E as well.

Not that such a scenario looked like becoming a reality as a raucous crowd got behind the hosts once Scott McDonald had lobbed Ben Foster to put Celtic in front.

"It is a fantastic atmosphere here," observed Ferguson. "Unless you go to Barcelona or Real Madrid, nothing equals that."

But until Giggs bundled home from close range after Artur Boruc had failed to hold a Cristiano Ronaldo thunderbolt, the equaliser looked as though it would not come.

"We deserved to get a point but with minutes to go you think you are going to lose it, that it is not going to be your night," said Ferguson. "Losing the early goal set us back but that happens in football."

Ferguson has until November 19th to respond to an FA charge of misconduct for confronting referee Mike Dean after his side's 4-3 win over Hull City at the weekend.

Ferguson marched onto the field immediately after the final whistle and offered Dean a few choice words before heading to the home dressing room.