GORDON STRACHAN admits he has a plan to beat Arsenal - and insists it won't involve playing them at their own game.

The Saints boss was at Highbury on Wednesday for Arsenal's 2-2 draw with Manchester United.

He happily acknowledges he will be planning for the FA Cup final as well as their Premiership meeting at Highbury 10 days before the May 17 final clash.

He said: "I'm enjoying it as much anyone. People say you can shut the Cup final out, but not really - you look forward to things as manager like a Cup final.

"I've told the players to enjoy and be proud of what they have done. I'm going to say just concentrate on the league, do both.

"You can enjoy the Cup during the week, if it's in the back of your minds. When it comes to Saturday and the league game we forget all about it - that is the way you do it.

"There won't be any complacency or holding back. It doesn't work that way with players, I've been in that position."

Strachan came up with a strategy that saw Saints beat Arsenal 3-2 back in November in the Premiership.

He said: "It was nice to watch Manchester United and Arsenal, some of the things Man United tried I've seen Ajax try and other clubs.

"There's two ways of doing it, there is one way that doesn't look so great and another way.

"I've got an idea, but you can't play like Arsenal do or they batter you.

"But within my plan you still need people heading, crossing, tackling and passing the ball.

"If you've not got that our plans go out the window.

"It's easy to say we are now concentrating on the league, but I'll be honest - we are not going to blank the Cup final.

"We know we are in the Cup final, we are enjoying being in the Cup final.

"The players are happy with life and quite rightly so.

"If you are in the relegation zone you can be down, but we should be happy that we are doing well."

Strachan was delighted with the performances of Brett Ormerod and Chris Marsden against Watford.

And although Marsden is now suspended for today's clash with Leeds and Monday's match with Birmingham, the Saints boss feels he was right to ensure the 34-year-old was available last week.

Strachan recently left Marsden out of the side for two Premiership matches to avoid him picking up a booking which would have ruled him out of last Sunday's semi.

He said: "We have been vindicated by Mars crossing the ball, we score, we win the semi-final and we are into Europe."

Regarding Ormerod, Strachan said: "Brett has always been rushing around and trying his hardest. But we have seen a more relaxed Brett and relaxation for a striker comes from scoring goals.

"He is a lot more relaxed this week, but we were back at it and we have trained hard. We have been doing 1,500-yard runs, eight 80-yard runs and eight 50-yard runs full out- that is not bad going."

l Furious Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is livid at suggestions that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tried to make the most of the elbowing incident which saw Sol Campbell sent off at Highbury.

Arsenal have appealed but with referee Mark Halsey apparently happy with his decision, it seems unlikely it will be overturned - leaving Campbell staring at a four-game ban which will rule him out of the title run-in and the FA Cup final.

"The Arsenal players are attacking him (Ole) verbally - they should be looking at their own players before turning on ours because the very least you can say is that Sol was silly," said Ferguson.

"It was quite clear on television that he has looked round to see where Ole is and has hit him with his elbow."