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Ferguson and Wenger still on bad terms
Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson celebrated achieving his latest sporting and psychological victory over Arsenal by driving another nail into his deteriorating relationship with Gunners' boss Arsene Wenger.
After David Bellion's goal, after just 19 seconds, had given United a 1-0 win in their Old Trafford League Cup quarter-final clash, Ferguson insisted Arsenal striker Robin van Persie should face action by the FA after a second half clash with United's Kieran Richardson.
Ferguson said the Arsenal player was "more than lucky" to stay on the pitch after a touchline tussle.
"I think the FA will have to look at van Persie's behaviour - he threw an elbow at the boy," Ferguson told Sky Sports.
Wenger, who exchanged a lukewarm handshake with the United manager at the end of the game, said he had thought about bringing his player off the field.
"I considered bringing van Persie off. It's important to keep control of your nerves and I was worried at some stages - especially at the start of the second half," said the Frenchman.
It was a bitter night for Arsenal's junior side with defeat following the 2-0 loss in October which ended the champions English top-flight record of 49 unbeaten league matches.
That game was overshadowed by a series of disciplinary incidents, including allegations that soup and pizza thrown from the Arsenal dressing room had hit Ferguson.
In the fallout from that match, United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy was banned for three games following a dangerous challenge on Ashley Cole.
So incensed was Wenger, he labelled the Dutch forward a "cheat", a comment for which he will have to answer before an FA discipinary panel on December 16.
Wednesday's match never threatened to reach that level of rage and was settled when French striker Bellion's shot slipped beneath the body of Gunners' stand-in keeper Manuel Almunia.
Ferguson said he will resist the temptation to bring back some of his first-team regulars for the semi-final, which takes place in January over two legs against Chelsea.
"They are one step from the final in Cardiff and I'm going to stick with them in the semi-final - I think they deserve it."
Wenger too was full of praise for his young side.
"This team has great potential and three or four players are close to playing for the first team - they need more experience but they have big talent," said the Frenchman.
"We went into this competition knowing at some stage we would play against a team away where we might not go through - overall I'm very happy with the competition we played.
The other semi-final will feature Championship side Watford facing Liverpool who put out Tottenham on Wednesday winning a penalty shoot-out after the teams had been locked at 1-1 at the end of extra-time. |
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