WHEN the reds of Arsenal take on the reds of Manchester United, red mist descends. It envelops the managers, players and fans alike, the fixture often degenerating from mutual loathing to the point of anarchy. All rationale disappears in a frenzy of wild challenges, verbal intimidation and, inevitably, recriminations and suspensions.

The temperature may be a shade cooler when the clubs meet in the quarter-finals of the League Cup at Old Trafford in three weeks. Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger, the managers, are likely to rest many of their established stars, those who have inflamed the passions in recent years and bear deep-seated grudges. Yet the undercurrent of spite will simmer not far from the surface, the 16-year war ready to reignite at the slightest excuse.

Ferguson knows it. “There has been bad blood for a long time,” he said after the latest outbreak of hostilities at Old Trafford last month. Wenger knows it, too. But they appear unable or unwilling to douse the fire, perhaps aware that it would be deemed a sign of weakness.

Such enmity can be traced back to 1988, when Brian McClair, the United striker, was taunted by Nigel Winterburn, the Arsenal left back, after he had missed a late penalty in their FA Cup fifth-round tie at Highbury. Arsenal won 2-1 and Ferguson has not forgotten. “Winterburn started all this off with that incident,” he said.

“Battle of Old Trafford I” exploded in October 1990, when a 21-man brawl broke out after Winterburn and Anders Limpar had gang-tackled Denis Irwin. Arsenal were deducted two points, United one. Morally, there was no winner. Yet United had conceded the high ground, defeated 1-0 by a goal from Limpar, and Arsenal moved on serenely to take the championship. United finished sixth, 24 points off the pace, and their 6-2 win at Highbury in the League Cup proved little consolation.

“Battle of Old Trafford II” in September last year was tasty, too. Ruud van Nistelrooy missed a late penalty in a 0-0 draw and the Arsenal players went berserk, led by the eye-popping features of Martin Keown. As in 1990, Arsenal appeared to be the main perpetrators; as in 1990, they appeared to be least affected by the fallout. Even though the disciplinary sanctions were severe, they beat Liverpool and Chelsea shortly afterwards. The European Cup again eluded them, but they won the Premiership, magnificently undefeated, with 90 points. United limped in third, 15 points adrift.

Last month, “Battle of Old Trafford III” ensued. The brothers Neville, Gary and Phil, may have been on a mission to emasculate José Antonio Reyes, Van Nistelrooy almost maimed Ashley Cole, Ferguson was showered in foodstuffs and Wenger landed an FA charge for improper conduct, but, basically, it was par for the course.

This time, though, Arsenal have stuttered in the aftermath. Their unbeaten 49-match league run over, quashed by United’s 2-0 victory, they have since won only twice in five matches at home and abroad, both through their second XI in the League Cup.

Yet United’s form has been inconsistent, too — three decisive wins in the Champions League and League Cup, but only one point from six in the Premiership. They still trail Arsenal by nine points in the championship.

How José Mourinho, the manager of Chelsea, who are two points ahead of Arsenal at the top, will have rubbed his hands with glee late on Wednesday night, when the League Cup quarter-final draw was made. Bring on the United v Arsenal clashes, the more the merrier: more bust-ups, more injuries, more suspensions for their rivals.

Ferguson and Wenger do not seem bothered when the red mist descends. And why should Mourinho, either?

QUARTER-FINALS DRAW: Watford v Portsmouth, Tottenham v Liverpool, Fulham v Chelsea, Manchester United v Arsenal. Ties to be played on November 30/December 1

BATTLE LINES

October 1990
Man Utd 0 Arsenal 1

Arsenal deducted two points, United one. Both clubs fined £50,000.

March 1994
Arsenal 2 Man Utd 2

Eric Cantona sent off for second time in four days.

April 2003
Arsenal 2 Man Utd 2

Sol Campbell sent off for elbowing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

September 2003
Man Utd 0 Arsenal 0

Arsenal players receive bans totalling nine matches and fines of £265,000, United players fined £11,500.

October 2004
Man Utd 2 Arsenal 0

Ruud van Nistelrooy banned for three matches. Arsène Wenger charged by FA.