Wenger denies ‘mental’ problem with Ruud

ARSENE WENGER denies he has a “mental problem” with Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy as his war of words with Alex Ferguson continued.

Ferguson is understood to have accused Wenger of having a ‘mental’ problem with the Dutch striker following the Arsenal manager’s outburst over his tackle on Ashley Cole in their heated encounter at Old Trafford last Sunday.

But a defiant Wenger insisted last night: “I can reassure you that I have no mental problem with van Nistelrooy.”

Wenger added that he would welcome any move by United to present their findings to the FA: “That’s exactly what they should do. For me, nothing happened. We like to look forward not backwards.

“But what will the FA be looking for? It is not what happened in the tunnel, it is what happened on the pitch. What is important is the spirit of the game and the FA has to protect football. The FA can look into what they want, I don’t mind. I am not worried at all, nothing happened.”

Wenger has other problems to occupy him ahead of today’s Highbury meeting with Southampton. England defender Sol Campbell is out for Arsenal’s next two games, with his manager admitting he is now very concerned about the injury which sidelined him at the start of the season.

Campbell will miss the Premiership game against Southampton and the Champions League clash with Panathinaikos next week.

“Sol is certainly out of the game against Southampton and on Tuesday with a recurrence of the Achilles and calf muscle injury. This time it is higher up so it should be a much shorter recovery time. But I do worry that he might be out for a period of time.

“It is disappointing and a little bit worrying that it comes back.”

Wenger was boosted however by the good news that defender Ashley Cole and goalkeeper Jens Lehmann will play against Southampton.