"Everyone at Arsenal has been waiting for this game," Campbell told the Guardian. "We are up for this one. We know we have to win. A draw does nothing for us or them, so it's very intense. After all that's happened, if we beat them it will be one of our sweetest ever wins, especially because of how we lost to them up there. It is just more bitter and personal against United," added Campbell. "There's an edge. Maybe a little bit of the old north-south divide as well."
As the for the game at OT earlier this season:
"It (the 2-0 defeat) had a psychological impact on us, but again because of the way we were defeated," said Campbell in a reference to a controversial penalty award for United's first goal. That was far more upsetting, losing like that, because they just seem to get away with it. You try and balance out over the course of a season but I've had so many rough decisions against them you begin to wonder."
Campbell tries to play the innocent victim of some evil northern conspiracy to besmirch his good name but the facts show that he is usually at the centre of any hostilities on the pitch.
In 2003, with the title race on a knife edge, Campbell's swinging arm caught Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Campbell was sent off, suspension for three crucial Premiership matches and the FA Cup final followed. Their defence, so fragile without him, blew a 2-0 lead and the championship against Bolton.
In the next clash between Arsenal and United, a supposedly innocuous Community Shield opener, a brush between Campbell and Eric Djemba-Djemba resulted in video evidence, a charge of improper conduct and ultimately a £20,000 fine for the Arsenal centre-back.
And after the notorious 2003 battle between the teams at Old Trafford, when Ruud van Nistelrooy missed a last-minute penalty, this season's conflict in Manchester was sparked by yet another disputed spot-kick - after Wayne Rooney tumbled over Campbell's outstretched leg. "It does add up, doesn't it?" Campbell says with a tight smile."
Campbell goes on to admit that he rift between the clubs runs much deeper than just the managers:
"It's just more bitter and personal against United," Campbell says. "There's an edge. Maybe a little bit of the old north-south divide as well."
Campbell used a Wengerism when asked what happened in the Old Trafford tunnel: "I didn't see nothing. I was in the changing room. Situations get whipped up so it's best to leave that one."