And it's been revealed Ferguson always expected an improved Arsenal this season.

In a rare moment of intimacy with journalists on United's pre-season tour of Asia, Ferguson raised an eyebrow when he was asked whether Arsenal might struggle after losing Henry to Barcelona.

"They lost him in December," Ferguson said in a curt assessment of the France forward's final months as an Arsenal player. "His time had gone and I think Arsene (Wenger) knew that. I think they will be more consistent. They need more goals, but they've got [Emmanuel] Adebayor and they've got [Robin] Van Persie back, so they're not too bad, are they?"