Bergkamp set for United showdown

It has been billed as the Premiership decider and tonight at Highbury, Arsenal FC, who were in imperious form earlier in the season, play Manchester United FC, who after a stuttering start are back to their best.

'The big one'
Arsenal are three points behind United with a game in hand and the champions will be hoping to regain top spot and reignite their title charge. "Everyone is calling this the big one," Dennis Bergkamp, the Arsenal striker, told uefa.com, "but at Arsenal every game is important. The season does not end this week and if we beat Manchester United we still have five more games left."

Dismal draw
Arsenal's last league showing was a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa FC, while United thumped Newcastle United FC 6-2. "We have dropped points recently against Villa and Blackburn [Rovers FC] who, with every respect, we should have beaten," Bergkamp said. "Manchester United were always going to be our biggest threat. They are strong but so are Arsenal and if we play our best we can win."

Shift in power
United have enjoyed a decade of dominance in England but if Arsenal - who won through to the FA Cup final last weekend - make history by winning their first back-to-back titles since the 1930s it could mark a shift in the balance of power. However, Arsenal, unlike United, who cruised through the group stages, have failed to progress in Europe, exiting the UEFA Champions League at the second group stage.

'Disappointing'
"It was disappointing that we didn't make it through," Bergkamp said. "At the start of the season, after we had just won a domestic Double, we believed that this would be our year in Europe. It is difficult to explain why we could not play with the fluency that we have shown in the league. But, we have put the disappointment behind us. I believe that this team can come back stronger next season. We are confident we are good enough to succeed in Europe."

Contract expires
However, whether Bergkamp will be at Arsenal next season is unclear as the 33-year-old's contract expires in the summer. "I am not thinking about my future until the summer, especially with so many big games coming up," he said. "I think it would be a shame to retire when I feel as fit as ever. It has always been a dream to win the Champions League and I hope I still have a chance to do this before my career ends. But this is for the future, all my focus at the moment is on beating Manchester United and winning the double again."

Other action
The Premiership encounter is not the only significant match in Europe this evening. In Italy, AS Roma will be trying to protect a 2-1 lead against S.S. Lazio in the Italian Cup semi-final second leg. In the Netherlands, AFC Ajax and Feyenoord meet for the right to face FC Utrecht in the Dutch Cup final and there also cup semi-finals in Belgium, Switzerland and Hungary, as well as a League Cup semi-final in France.