Arsenal were furious after their 49- match unbeaten Premiership run was halted by last month’s controversial 2-0 defeat at United.
The bad-tempered clash spilled over into the tunnel where United boss Fergie was pelted with pizza in the infamous Battle of the Buffet and Arsene Wenger branded Ruud van Nistelrooy a cheat.
But former Gunners full-back Winterburn warned Highbury’s kids not to get sucked into the bitter rivalry in their quarter-final clash on December 1.
He said: “What has gone is gone. It’s not about revenge, it is about winning the next game to get back the psychological edge. These boys have to concentrate on putting on a good show and getting into the semi-finals.”
Teenagers such as Arturo Lupoli, 17, and 18-year-old Quincy Owusu-Abeyie have won rave reviews for their silky skills in Arsenal’s League Cup wins over Manchester City and Everton.
But Winterburn insists Wenger’s rising stars will be no pushovers and expects them to get stuck in at Old Trafford.
He added: “There is nothing wrong with strong tackling if it is done in a proper manner. That is part of the game.
“I am sure the young players at Arsenal are learning that sometimes it is not always about playing attacking football and you have to dig in and earn respect and win the battle.”
Both United and Arsenal are sure to field mostly reserves in the League Cup showdown.
But former Premiership ref Jeff Winter insists that the football authorities will still want one of their top officials in the middle.
And Winter is convinced that only a handful of refs are capable of taking charge of this powderkeg fixture.
He refereed he FA Cup war at Old Trafford two seasons ago which culminated in a furious Alex Ferguson splitting David Beckham’s head open with a flying boot.
Winter said: “This is definitely not a game for the faint-hearted and it needs one of our most experienced referees.
“Most of the main protagonists will be missing this time which may help to take out some of the sting.
“But it is still Ferguson v Wenger and there is so much ill-feeling between the two clubs.
“There are a number of young referees making their name in the Premiership this season. But no way could you put any of them in charge.
“If something kicks off, it would do untold damage to their prospects at such an early stage of their top-flight career.
“You can also rule out Mike Riley or Steve Bennett after their problems at Old Trafford.”
Riley was panned by both sides after last month’s Old Trafford clash.
Arsenal were incensed he awarded United a controversial penalty, failed to spot Van Nistelrooy’s horror tackle on Ashley Cole and let off Rio Ferdinand when he brought down Freddie Ljungberg. United were furious Riley missed another spot-kick when Cole felled Ryan Giggs.
Bennett was in charge for last season’s equally stormy 0-0 draw, sending off Patrick Vieira and awarding United a last-minute penalty — sparking a massive bust-up after the final whistle.
Winter, who retired after last season’s FA Cup final, insists the thankless task of reffing the next clash must go to Graham Poll, Neale Barry, Mark Halsey, Dermot Gallagher, Mike Dean or Alan Wiley.
He added: “The Premiership want their top ref in charge when the clubs meet at Highbury on February 1.
“They won’t want this cup-tie to spike their guns. If another major incident erupts, it would effectively rule another ref out of the Premiership game.” Winter admits that virtually <B>ALL</B> the game’s elite referees have upset Fergie or Wenger at one time or another.
But he insisted: “Whoever takes charge of United against Arsenal is in a no-win situation, as Mike Riley found out. Mike tried to give the players a bit of leeway and let them get away with a few strong early challenges. But the teams just took advantage of that.
“Yet if you start waving yellow cards for the first foul, there’s a danger things can quickly escalate. You’re forced to send players off and then people accuse you of ruining the game.
“When I refereed the FA Cup fifth-round tie last year I gave four yellow cards in the first seven minutes, called 16 players together and gave both captains a warning. It wasn’t my usual way of refereeing but I had to take action after some poor challenges.
“Fortunately, everyone calmed down and we managed to get a great game out of a potential war. In my nine years as a Premier League referee, I never sent off an Arsenal player. There can’t be too many who can say that!
“But I did have a love-hate relationship with Fergie, most notably when I was the fourth official who had him banished to the stands at Newcastle last season.
“And though Ferguson and Wenger have been aggrieved by certain referees in the past, they also recognise the need for a very strong official to take charge of their games.
“I just hope the pizza delivery is ready for another busy night.”
