LONDON, Aug 7: Arsenal and Manchester United, the two English clubs which nave admitted taking part in talks to set up a European Super League, meet Sunday in English football's traditional season opener, the Charity Shield, reports AP.

The Gunners and Reds issued similarly worded statements that they had been involved in discussions about future European competitions while at the same time saying they were totally committed to existing league and cup programmes.

Their admissions on Wednesday have added more fuel to speculation that a breakaway league is on its way and the subject is being debated across the nation as a new season is about to start.

England's two clubs in this season's ' League. Arsenal and United would have much to gain from a lucrative Super League with its massive revenue from TV rights and sponsorship. Their absence would severely weaken domestic competitions.

The two soccer giants are the main contenders for the Premier League title once again.

They are rated co-favourites at 2-1 by bookmakers Ladbrokes even though 4-1 shot Chelsea has recruited World Cup stars Marcel Desaflly. Brian Laudrup and Alberto Ferrer along with Italian striker Pierluigi Casiraghl. Liverpool. 7-1 contenders, have hired Germany's Sean Dundee and recalled Ireland's Steve Staunton and now has French coach Gerard Houlller at the helm alongside Roy Evans.

Although the game at Wembley is effectively a warmup to the Premier League campaign, which starts a week later. Alex Ferguson's United has plenty to

More concerned about winning the European Champions' Cup. his team squandered a 12-point lead in the Premier

League last season and eventually lost out to Arsenal. It also lost to Monaco in the quarterfinal of the Champions' Cup and wound up with no title at all after four championships in five years.

Two World Cup players im-Krted during the summer are ely to face each other at Wembley.

Nelson Vivas, who was on the Argentina lineup that ousted England in the second round, could be on the Arsenal defence having signed on Thursday while the Reds are expected to field Dutch defender Jaap Stam.

But United's other off-season signing. Sweden's Jesper Bromqvist, misses the game because of a lingering ankle injury which also may keep him out of the Aug 15 Premier League opener against Leicester.

Although Arsenal have been linked with other big-name players, such as Dutch stars Ronald de Boer of Ajax and AC Milan's Patrick Kluivert. Vivas is the only major import by manager Arsene Wenger.

Ferguson also tried to get Kluivert and agreed a price with AC Milan but the striker preferred to stay in Italy. Cameroon midfielder Marc Vivien Foe was another target but broke his leg just before the . World Cup and Ferguson also is

after Aston Villa's Tobagan striker Dwight Yorke.

Otherwise, most of the players who face each other at Wembley will be those who were involved in the title race last term.

Arsenal's World Cup stars, Emmanuel Petit and Patrick Vieira of title-winner France and Dennis Bergkamp and Marc Overmars of fourth place Netherlands are back after a post-tournament break and should play some part of Sunday's game.

Stam is expected to take the place of central defender Gary Pallister. who has returned to Middlesbrough, and United also welcomes back tough-tackling Irish midfielder Roy Keane, who missed most of last season because of a knee injury.

England midfielder David Beckham, who is still being blamed for England’s World Cup exit after being needlessly sent off against Argentina, is unlikely to face the gunners.

Ine midfielder, who is set to receive a hostile reception from non-United fans wherever he goes in England, collected an ankle injury playing in a warmup game in Norway on Monday. With a Champions' Cup qualifying game against LKS Lodz coming up on Wednesday. Ferguson doesn't want to risk his fitness. ■