The Gunners have taken a huge amount of stick over the past week, with many pundits accusing Arsene Wenger of sour grapes for his reaction to the way Stoke played when they beat the Gunners at the Britannia Stadium last weekend.

After following that with a disappointing Champions League draw against Fenerbahce and also suffering spate of injuries, including star striker Emmanuel Adebayor, Arsenal look ripe for the taking when Manchester United head to the capital.

But Fletcher knows it will not be so simple. And after being on the wrong end of such fierce criticism, the Scotland international feels Arsenal will be thirsting for victory against their old rivals.

"They will come out fighting," he said.

"I am sure they will have been hurt by the criticism they have had with certain teams saying this and that.

"They will have read all the comments, so they will be coming out to show they are not all just about passing and flair.

"Arsenal have top quality players and I am sure they will be hurting. But criticism like that will only spur them on."

Not for the first time, Arsenal are being accused of having a very soft underbelly beneath their silky passing game.

"Sometimes you need more than good quality and good passing to win you games," said Fletcher. "Maybe that has hit home to the after all the criticism."

Sir Alex Ferguson came in for some criticism of his own this week, after being charged with improper conduct over his verbal attack on referee Mike Dean immediately after the narrow win over Hull last weekend.

Ferguson was furious Michael Turner was not shown a second yellow card when he chopped down Michael Carrick, a decision which allowed Hull to mount the comeback bid that so nearly earned them a phenomenal draw.

The United boss has until November 19 to respond and, having served a two-match touchline ban for his finger-jabbing tirade at Mark Clattenburg at Bolton last season Ferguson knows what is coming if he cannot avoid a guilty verdict.

While Ferguson has coped with intense criticism throughout his 22 years at United, it is a relatively new experience for Wenger, whose less confrontational manner has usually meant for smoother relations with the media.

"They don't normally get a lot of criticism," admitted Fletcher.

"They get praise for playing the right way and they still get it even though they have not won much for a while.

"But criticism is part of being at a great club.

"It is something you have to deal with at Manchester United because expectations are so high.

"If you don't reach those expectations you get criticised and rightly so. Sometimes it is a bit harsh but you have to deal with it."