Tales from the tunnel

ARSENAL players allegedly went “berserk” in clashes with Manchester United stars in the tunnel at Old Trafford.

Thierry Henry and Jens Lehmann were singled out as two of the Arsenal players most involved. Henry was seen chasing United’s goalkeeper Roy Carroll off the pitch, accusing him of time-wasting. Arsenal goalkeeper Lehmann confronted Carroll in the tunnel. Witnesses reported that players squared up to each other, jabbing their fingers in each other’s faces and yelling abuse.

During the melee, an unidentified Arsenal player was said to have thrown a cup of soup at Alex Ferguson when he entered the tunnel after pumping his fists at fans following his team’s 2-0 victory. Arsenal equipment manager Paul Johnson was accidentally struck and suffered a nose bleed. Ferguson was then hit by the soup as he walked past to give a TV interview.

A witness said: “The Arsenal players were enraged by what happened on the pitch and, after an exchange, suddenly a cup of soup went flying in Ferguson’s direction. There was so much pushing and shoving you just couldn’t tell who had thrown it.”

There were suggestions that Lehmann was the culprit, though other sources said he squirted water in Ferguson’s direction. Ferguson wiped soup from his hair and face and changed into a tracksuit before appearing before the cameras.

The Arsenal players were finally bundled into their dressing room by coaching staff. They were apparently told to get changed as quickly as possible and leave Old Trafford. United officials were stunned at the way Arsenal players had treated Ferguson. The manager appeared calm during his TV interview in which he did not mention the incident.