Wenger weary of Old Trafford fall-out

ARSENE WENGER last night made thinly-veiled criticisms of Manchester United’s bid to ensure action against his players as he insisted the FA must be left alone to rule on disciplinary matters.

United have been compiling a dossier on incidents in the Old Trafford clash, effectively asking the FA to punish Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry for alleged violent conduct against Alan Smith and Gabriel Heinze respectively. That bid, however, now appears doomed to failure as United's evidence was due to be submitted later this week well after the FA's 48-hour deadline for considering charges for on-pitch incidents. It has also done little to improve relations between the two clubs, even if Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein and United chief executive David Gill held peace talks for a second time yesterday.

Dein revealed: "The clubs have spoken at the highest level and agree the matter is now closed."

Wenger, however, could seemingly not resist an apparent side-swipe at United even as he declared his own determination to put the matter behind him.

"We're happy with any evidence given by an objective eye on the game and that's it," he declared. Asked what he meant by an 'objective eye', Wenger said: "The FA. I've never spoken to the FA. It's the FA's job. I don't want to do their job [for them]. We want to look forward and I don't think we have to waste our time with anything else. I said what I had to say two days later and I stick to that. I have nothing more to say. I'm fed up with that story.

"My reaction is always the same we love football here and we want to go on with football. We are world famous for the quality of the game we play."