Arsene Wenger: 'Beating Manchester United would make a symbolic statement'

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes that his team will make a "symbolic statement" if they defeat Manchester United at Old Trafford this Sunday.

Two points separate the sides, with Arsenal currently occupying third in the table and United sitting in the final Champions League spot.

Earlier in the season, Arsenal managed to seal a 2-1 victory over the Red Devils on their patch in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, and Wenger believes that the team will be boosted psychologically if they get a result this weekend.

"Any positive result - a win or a draw would be great," Wenger said in this morning's press conference. "Mathematically we can put distance between United and us in the top four and secure a top three place.

"I think as well it would be a symbolic statement if we won. We won there in the FA Cup and to replicate that would be important psychologically."

Arsenal, who will be without injured Danny Welbeck for the trip, suffered a 1-0 defeat to Swansea City in their last league outing.