Alex Ferguson hopes there will be no repeat of the problems that marred Manchester United’s last league match with Arsenal when the teams meet at Highbury on Sunday.
Third-placed United go into the game trailing leaders Arsenal by 12 points and Ferguson expects it to be another tense affair but one with emotions kept under control.
“It doesn’t do the game any good whatsoever. I think the whole world saw Arsenal’s behaviour last time. How they feel the guilt on that I don’t know,” the United managersaid.
“But my main concern is to make sure that Manchester United behave themselves properly.”
The trouble began at Old Trafford last September when Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira was sent off towards the end of the match, which ended 0-0, following a clash with United striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy. Van Nistelrooy subsequently missed a last-minute penalty which sparked a mini brawl involving players from bith sides.
As a result of the trouble, Arsenal had four players fined and suspended.
Arsenal are chasing a new English league record of going 30 games unbeaten from the start of the season, and Ferguson was happy to acknowledge the Gunners achievement thus far.
“They have had a great season,” Ferguson said.
“They are a very powerful, aggressive, athletic team. They have a lot of speed in their team and to go through the season undefeated in our competition is very difficult. They’ve done fantastic.”
