Losers licking wounds on pride and ego......
GUNNERS WILL REGROUP, VOWS VIEIRA By Jim van Wijk, PA Sport
Patrick Vieira has vowed the Gunners will become a stronger team after seeing their 49-match unbeaten league record end at Old Trafford. The Premiership champions have yet to make any official comment on reports Sir Alex Ferguson had soup thrown over him by one of their players in the tunnel after yesterday's game.
The Football Association are likely to seek an explanation over the incident - which is also said to have left a member of the Arsenal backroom staff with a bloodied nose following the melee as the teams headed towards the dressing rooms.
It is already known Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will have to clarify his remarks to the FA on the performance of referee Mike Riley and the behaviour of Ruud van Nistelrooy, who netted a controversial penalty in the 2-0 win but has subsequently been charged with serious foul play against Ashley Cole.
Yet whatever the outcome of FA investigations, Vieira maintains Arsenal cannot wait to put their Old Trafford disappointment behind them. "We are upset about the way we lost,'' said the Frenchman. "The penalty decision changed the game. We were defending well and we felt comfortable because they were not creating chances. "We were happy with the way the game was going on. In the dressing room after the game we knew we did not deserve to lose this game. We know the referee's decision changed the game. We feel stronger than ever, and our character is just so great we will bounce back in our next game.''
Arsenal are now just two points clear of second-placed Chelsea but still have a significant lead over United, who are fifth. "The main thing is that we are still top,'' Vieira told his club's official website,
www.arsenal.com. "We are eight points ahead of Manchester United and two ahead of Chelsea, so we are still in a strong position. If you asked those two sides where they'd want to be right now I think they would still say where we are.''
Wenger also believes the controversial defeat will serve to strengthen Arsenal's resolve as they seek to defend their crown. "Whether the gap is sufficient or not I don't know, but over the next few games I want us to show we are a great side,'' said the Arsenal manager. "We want to capitalise that over the coming games and start a new run next week.''
F.A. Charges Van Nistelrooy, Asks Wenger to Explain Comments
By Ryan Mills (Bloomberg)
Ruud van Nistelrooy has been charged with serious foul play over a challenge on Arsenal's Ashley Cole in Manchester United's 2-0 win Sunday. England's Football Association also asked Gunners coach Arsene Wenger to explain post-match comments about referee Mike Riley.
Van Nistelrooy must admit or deny the charge by tomorrow and will be dealt with at a hearing Thursday, the ruling body said on its Web site. Television replays showed the 28-year-old forward, scorer of United's first goal from the penalty spot, scrape his studs down Cole's leg in the first half. Because Riley missed the incident, the F.A. is able to take its own action.
The ruling body's scrutiny of incidents at a match that ended Arsenal's record 49-match unbeaten run follows U.K. Sports Minister Richard Caborn's appointment of an independent assessor to look into corporate governance at the organization. Caborn on Sunday criticized the sport's disciplinary procedures. The F.A. said last week it wouldn't charge England captain David Beckham following his admission that he deliberately earned a yellow card for fouling an opponent. World governing body FIFA has previously criticized English football authorities for taking too long over disciplinary decisions. Wenger must respond after criticizing Riley for awarding the spot kick following Sol Campbell's challenge on Wayne Rooney. Wenger said there was no contact and that Rooney, who scored the second goal, told Arsenal players after the match that Campbell hadn't touched him. Riley has awarded eight penalties to United in the last eight matches he's officiated at its Old Trafford stadium. Wenger said his decision "out of nowhere decided the match.''
'Usual Penalty': "I think you should look at the track record of the referee -- we got the usual penalty when United are in difficulty,'' Wenger said Sunday. "In a game like that, to see how lightly he gave a penalty is difficult to take.'' The F.A. said it will also look into reports of scuffles between players and coaching staff in the players' tunnel after the match. United manager Alex Ferguson was hit by either a sandwich or a cup of soup, according to U.K. newspapers. Last season's match at the same venue ended in a brawl that resulted in fines for five Arsenal players and two from United. The Gunners were also fined 175,000 pounds ($322,000) as a club.
