Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is tired of talking about his team’s 2-0 loss to Manchester United eight days ago. Reds counterpart Alex Ferguson won’t let the subject go.
Ferguson wants Gunners forwards Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp punished for foul play during the game, especially since his own striker, Ruud van Nistelrooy, is serving a three-game ban for a knee-high tackle on Ashley Cole.
United ended Arsenal’s unbeaten league record of 49 games in a contentious game at Old Trafford on October 24. Players and officials scuffled in the stadium tunnel after the final whistle.
Ferguson, who had food and soup thrown over his suit, is angry that the referee took no action against Henry and Bergkamp for apparent fouls on United players Gabriel Heinze and Alan Smith.
”A lot has been said on the game,” Wenger said on Monday. ”We are happy with any evidence given by an objective eye on the game and that’s it. There’s no further comment to make on that.
”I don’t even read anything any more about this game and I can’t even tell you what’s been said or written because, for me, it’s of no interest any more. We have a big game tomorrow [against Panathinaikos in the Champions League] and we love to play football.”
Arsenal-Man U games are usually volatile affairs. Last season’s match at Old Trafford ended with Gunners players jostling and taunting Van Nistelrooy after he missed a penalty in a 0-0 tie.
Four Arsenal players received suspensions and Ferguson wants similar punishments over incidents at the October 24 game.
United has prepared a dossier of allegations against the two Arsenal forwards and will hand it to the Football Association (FA) later this week. He’s unlikely to get his way, though, because FA rules say that such details have to be handed in within 48 hours of a game.
Arsenal vice-chairperson David Dein has held talks with United chief executive David Gill to try to defuse the feud.
”The clubs have spoken again at the highest level and agree the matter is now closed,” Dein said.
The coaches and players may not agree. — Sapa-AP