Scholes targets Arsenal men

By Phil McNulty
Our man with England

Scholes is gearing up to face old foes Henry, Vieira and Pires

Paul Scholes has stoked the fires ahead of England's opening Euro 2004 clash by admitting he wants to wreck the hopes of France's Arsenal contingent.

Scholes' winner for Manchester United halted Arsenal's treble bid in the FA Cup semi-final in April.

"There are similarities between this game and that one. We know we have to stop their best players," said Scholes.

"Gary Neville never gave Robert Pires a kick in that game. He always does well against him and we hope he will again."

The United man even aimed a swipe at Arsenal's Jose Antonio Reyes, who was initially ruled out for three months after a tackle by Scholes in United's 1-0 win at Villa Park.

In response to Reyes' rapid recovery that allowed him to play and score in the Champions League defeat against Chelsea three days later, Scholes said: "Three months - it was more like three minutes."

This is the most confident and the best squad I've been in Paul Scholes

Scholes said: "We know it will be difficult but we also know we're capable of it.

"Maybe it's a bit different in the sense that at United our whole season depended on it [the FA Cup].

"With this, we've got another couple of games in the group."

But the quiet man of England's squad was in buoyant mood as he said: "It is the most confident and the best squad I've been in.

"It is full of young and very good players."

Scholes is desperate to win European honours with England after being suspended when Manchester United won the Champions League against Bayern Munich in 1999.

He said: "I want to win things at the highest level, and there is a gap there in terms of my career.

"Hopefully I can do something about that in this tournament or the World Cup.

"You are always aware that it might be your last chance, but to be honest I am just focused on this tournament.

Scholes was dismissive of the confident noises emerging from the France camp, insisting England can record a morale-boosting opening win in Lisbon.

He said: "They're just confident people. They say what they think. I read last week that Pires thinks they're going to beat us 3-1.

"They're just ultra-confident. That's the way they feel."

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