Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has taken a swipe at Manchester City's mega spending ahead of today's big game. He rapped: "At Arsenal we'd never buy a player who costs £40 or £50million.

"If you look at clubs who have spent that kind of money then I don't see them playing as a team.

"If you look at our transfer policy then you can see how players respond when the manager puts faith in them."

City tried to buy Brazilian playmaker Kaka in a £100m deal and splashed more than £30m on Robinho.

But Van Persie is unimpressed. He insisted: "If you think of yourself as part of a group then you are prepared to work hard for results together.

"A £40m player feels pressure. They are going to be judged more than some guy who has come from the youth policy and then he thinks in terms of one person and not the team."