Evra not scared of Messi

Patrice Evra has claimed he would relish the prospect of coming up against Barcelona star Lionel Messi.

The Manchester United defender kept Arsenal's Theo Walcott quiet in Wednesday night's Champions League semi-final, first leg at Old Trafford and has backed himself to do the same with the tricky Argentinian should they meet in the final.

Evra said: "I can play against a player like Messi, I don't fear anybody, I just play my game.

"But it's too soon to start thinking about that. We have to play well in the second leg at Arsenal and then we can start to think about our dream.

"I watched the other semi-final and Chelsea defended very well and have given themselves a good chance at Stamford Bridge."

Evra believes United can expect a sterner test from the Gunners in the return leg at the Emirates, but that it would be a mistake to view his duel with Walcott as being decisive.

The French full-back added: "The most important thing is the team and not me against Walcott, for example. I was not focused on that.

"Arsenal will attack more on Tuesday - I think [Robin] van Persie will be back and they need to win - but we need to go there with the aim of winning, rather than just trying to keep a clean sheet."

Evra was disappointed United only emerged with a 1-0 victory from the first leg.

"Before the game, 1-0 looked a good result but, on the performance, I think 1-0 is not enough because we created a lot of chances - maybe four or five - and scored only one of them, so I'm disappointed about that," said Evra.

Sir Alex hails O'Shea as Wenger remains confident

Sir Alex Ferguson hailed the efforts of his Mr Versatile John O'Shea after the Irishman put Manchester United in touching distance of another Champions League final.

O'Shea's smartly-taken 17th-minute goal ensured United head to the Emirates Stadium for a tense second leg against Arsenal holding a narrow lead, but one achieved without conceding an away goal.

The Waterford-born star makes a habit of popping up with vital contributions and Ferguson felt his effort was worthy of special praise.

"John O'Shea took the goal really well,'' said Ferguson. "He is a great professional. The boy never complains. He is happy to play anywhere.

"He has not always been a number one choice but he produces 30 performances a season and it is a contribution we are grateful for. He has played in both full-back positions, central defence and in midfield. He is so versatile and offers such great value for us.

"He has played in most games this season. At the present moment in time, he would be in the team if we got to the final.''

That it is still an if and not a when for United was mostly due to the efforts of Manuel Almunia, who made four first-class saves in a one-sided encounter.

In addition, Cristiano Ronaldo rattled the crossbar, while Ryan Giggs had a second-half effort ruled out for offside on his 800th United appearance.

"Arsene will be thinking it has been a good day for him,'' reflected Ferguson. "He could have been out of the tie but he is not.

Manchester United 1-0 Arsenal

John O'Shea gave Man United the lead to take into the second leg of their Champions League semi-final with Arsenal.

The defender's nerveless 17th-minute effort was the least Sir Alex Ferguson's side deserved for a near faultless display, in which Manuel Almunia made a quartet of stunning saves and Cristiano Ronaldo rattled the Gunners' crossbar.

In addition, Ryan Giggs had a goal controversially disallowed for offside on his 800th appearance, meaning Arsenal headed home glad to still have a chance of reaching Rome on May 27.

However, having indicated yesterday a single-goal victory and a clean sheet would represent a perfect result, Ferguson got exactly what he wanted and his side must be favourites to get through.

Having given so much, Tevez was not amused to be replaced by Berbatov midway through the second-half.

Not that a capacity crowd had much time to consider his reaction after a loud rendition of 'Argentina' that followed 'sign him up', a cry seemingly destined to go unheeded.

Attention was diverted by the thunderous 25-yard effort from Ronaldo that smacked into the crossbar as United strained every sinew in their search for a second.

In response, Cesc Fabregas was off target with a couple of half-chances, Emmanuel Adebayor's volley flew over and substitute Nicolas Bendtner might well have equalised with a header from the free-kick that caused the collision which forced Rio Ferdinand off with what seemed like a rib injury.

The sight of Ferdinand trying to get back on even though Jonny Evans had already replaced him, emphasised how much this means to United.

Arsenal will need to exceed that determination if they are to overhaul the deficit next week.

Old enemies renew rivalry

Manchester United vs Arsenal - the confrontation they thought had been consigned to history but "the epic" is back.

Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, toe-to-toe for a place in the Champions League final.

Both have endured sticky moments over the last few years, since their rivalry was at its height, only to meet again on the biggest stage.

Ferguson is aiming to defend the Premier League and Champions League double Manchester United won so memorably last year while Arsenal have salvaged a season that seemed on the rocks and could yet clinch a first European Cup.

"You had me out of the door three years ago," smiled Ferguson, as he assessed the criticism Wenger has had to endure.

"You had me in a bath chair down on Torquay beach. That is the cynical world we are in.

"But Arsene has always kept his principles the same. His consistency hasn't changed and Arsenal have reaped the rewards."

If recent evidence is to be believed, these two old stagers of Premier League combat have put away their fighting tools and are now happy to hug.

After all, there are many common threads; a commitment to passing football, a willingness to embrace youth and a refusal to abandon tradition. Above everything else, they share a hunger and fierce determination to win.

"I like the way they play and also in their use of young players," said Ferguson.

"The history and tradition of both clubs has been the highest for years now.

"We always looked over our shoulders at Arsenal and they looked over their shoulders at us.

"Now we have Chelsea banging on the door. This season Liverpool are making a big effort.

"Our league is very tough. The top four are probably the best teams in Europe. That is shown in the fact we have three teams in the semi-finals again.

"But ourselves and Arsenal have certainly been the dominant forces.

"Those epic times are back with us and I am looking forward to a great match."

The similarities are so great, had either club been slightly quicker off the mark their respective line-ups tomorrow night could have been wearing shirts of the opposition.

Wenger was very keen on getting Cristiano Ronaldo from Sporting Lisbon, only to discover United had made the first move. Ferguson was equally attracted to Cesc Fabregas.

"Fabregas is a wonderful footballer," said Ferguson.

"You are always interested in the best young players but we didn't have a chance to sign him. Arsene was under the carpet before me."

Nevertheless, Ferguson has seen enough of the Spain midfielder to be wary even before Fabregas' two goals against Middlesbrough on Sunday.

"He has taken a few games to get his rhythm back (after injury) but he did very well," said the United boss.

Dangers abound for the Red Devils. Emmanuel Adebayor, another player Ferguson had an admiring eye on earlier in his career, is clearly a threat, while the Scot is placing his trust in Patrice Evra to do a better job of subduing the threat of Theo Walcott than he has managed with Tottenham's Aaron Lennon in a couple of meetings over the last few months.

"Walcott is very quick, probably the quickest forward in England at the moment," said Ferguson.

"But Patrice has played against him a few times. We are all right with that."

With John O'Shea's experience set to earn the Irishman selection at right-back ahead of Rafael, Ferguson's dilemma is over the offensive part of his line-up.

Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney could be used in wider positions, as they were so successfully in Porto, although Park Ji-sung's energy could also come into play, allowing the newly-crowned PFA player of the year to take up a more central station behind Cristiano Ronaldo.

When United lost to Arsenal in November, Ferguson left the Emirates declaring he had just witnessed one of the most high-quality games of his life.

The excellence is likely to be just as high tomorrow. But Old Trafford is set for a much cagier affair.

"It could be a cracker," said Ferguson.

"Looking at the tie and the players on view, you almost think this is a perfect semi-final.

"It is full of terrific footballers and has an appetising look about it.

"But it won't be decided tomorrow. I feel sure there will be a lot of football still to be played at the Emirates next week."

Man Utd hit five in thriller

Ref decision fires

United into life

A stunning second-half fightback led by Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney helped Manchester United re-establish their three-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a 5-2 win at Old Trafford.

An upset looked on the cards at the interval with Spurs 2-0 up thanks to an opportunist strike from Darren Bent and a neat control and finish from Luka Modric.

United grabbed a lifeline in the 57th minute when Ronaldo held his nerve to convert from the spot after keeper Heurelho Gomes and brought down Michael Carrick.

And after Rooney had slotted the equalised past Gomes at his near post in the 67th minute, the visitors crumbled.

Ronaldo headed a third from a Rooney cross a minute later and the England striker adding a fourth just three minutes after that.

Dimitar Berbatov poked home number five after the sorry Gomes spilled his initial header.

Liverpool had earlier kept up the pressure on Ferguson's men with ">a comfortable 3-1 win against 10-man Hull.

Xabi Alonso's strike and a Dirk Kuyt brace secured the victory which put Rafael Benitez's side temporarily ahead of United on goal difference.

Alonso scored on the stroke of half-time, hitting his free-kick straight into the wall but then lashing the rebound into the roof of the net, and after Caleb Folan had been sent off on the hour for a challenge on Martin Skrtel, Kuyt doubled the Reds' advantage with a header from a goalmouth scramble.

Geovanni pulled one back for Hull with 18 minutes to go, but Kuyt volleyed home his second a minute from time to leave the Tigers in 17th place, three points above the drop zone.

West Brom kept their hopes of a great escape alive with a 3-0 home win over Sunderland.

The Baggies went ahead against the run of play five minutes before the break courtesy of a swinging left-foot volley from Jonas Olsson.

Then Chris Brunt scored his fourth goal in the last three games to double the Baggies lead after a low cross from Marc-Antoine Fortune.

Juan Carlos Menseguez then put a third past a ramshackle Sunderland back line after a ball from Brunt.

Fulham moved into seventh after edging past Stoke 1-0 at Craven Cottage thanks to Erik Nevland, who slotted home after a neat one-two with Andy Johnson on the half hour.

Chelsea beat West Ham 1-0 at Upton Park thanks to Salomon Kalou's precise finish from a Frank Lampard cross.

But Blues 'keeper Petr Cech prevented the goalscorer becoming villain after Kalou brought down Hérita Ilunga in the area, saving Mark Noble's penalty on 71 minutes.

Bolton and Aston Villa shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at the Reebok Stadium. Ashley Young gave Villa the lead in the first half before Tamir Cohen smashed the ball home from close range after a Matthew Taylor free kick.

Manchester City won only their second game away from home all season as they downed FA Cup finalists Everton 2-1 at Goodison Park.

Robinho opened the scoring after being put clean through by Elano's pass before Stephen Ireland doubled their advantage in the second half.

Dan Gosling scored a late goal to give the Toffees hope but Mark Hughes' side held on