Manchester United launched a two-pronged attack on Kate Hoey last night after the new British sports minister found herself embroiled in controversy on her first day in office.

Martin Edwards, United's chief executive, and the manager Alex Ferguson rounded on Tony Banks's successor after she accused United of treating their fans "shabbily" by pulling out of the FA Cup to take part in the world club championship in Brazil.

"For a new minister to tell us we are shabby when we were acting to please her predecessor . . . I suggest she goes away and does her homework properly and the government gets its own house in order," Edwards said.

"It's disappointing when you make a decision with the full backing of government and the FA and now the whole thing is being jeopardised by comments or changes of personnel within the government. It was decided we would withdraw from the FA Cup. It wasn't just our decision. It was a joint decision."

Ferguson was equally damning. "Why should Manchester United take the flak? The (British) government are now saying we should be in the FA Cup, but they are the very people who said we had to go to Brazil.

"The gun was put firmly to our head. We were told if we didn't go to Brazil then England would lose the 2006 World Cup. Now the government have contradicted themselves and the FA are doing nothing. People should be getting on to them - not us.

"This is all down to the FA and the government. They can tell us quite clearly that we don't need to go Brazil and that we should come back in the FA Cup. They should tell us to forget about the World Cup bid because it's not our responsibility."

In a thinly veiled reference to Hoey, an Arsenal supporter, he added: "Maybe the Arsenal fans in the government who want us back in the FA Cup should think about the great advantages they will get from us going to Brazil."

United, treble-winners last season, will be aiming for their first trophy of the new campaign in the Charity Shield against Arsenal at Wembley tomorrow. Ferguson will not let his side rest on their laurels.

"If there's some unknown player in my dressing-room subconsciously thinking that we've made it, he's in for a shock," he said. "I don't think my players are like that but I will be watching for the signs very closely."

United's 33-match unbeaten sequence will be severely tested by Arsenal, but Ferguson is determined to maintain the momentum. "Losing 3-0 to Arsenal in last year's Charity Shield was a bit of a humiliation," he said. "But losing will be harder than ever now because it makes so many people happy.

"Before, teams were looking to beat the Premiership champions. Now it's the European Cup winners and, after the world club championship in Brazil next season, it could be the universe. We've created a monster that people will want to shoot down."

Arsene Wenger made it clear yesterday that his players have their guns at the ready and warned that United's squad may take longer to get over their wallowing than Ferguson hopes.

"You will always have a dip when you have been on a high like they have," the Arsenal manager said, recalling his side's fitful start to last season after the Double success. "It takes some time to settle and to understand you have to fight again.

"We had the players who had won the World Cup, the players who had won the Double and to get them right psychologically and physically took us some time. Last season we beat Manchester United at home and drew away, and beat Chelsea at home and drew away, but we didn't win the championship, which is very unusual. Why? Because at the start of the season we dropped so many points.

"We will be hungry, of course," he added. "We want to win everything and it starts by trying on Sunday to show how strong we are."