Wenger to send '11 gladiators' into the arena

ARSENE WENGER said he cannot promise there will be no repeat of last season's Old Trafford melee as he will be sending out 11 gladiators to face Manchester United tomorrow.

However, he insists that Arsenal have cleaned up their disciplinary act since being hit by what he still maintains were overly-harsh penalties 13 months ago. And he urged referee Mike Riley to keep a close eye on the antics of all players, including Ruud van Nistelrooy, who sparked last season's bust-up after his clash with Patrick Vieira.

Arsenal let themselves down with their reaction to Vieira's dismissal and van Nistelrooy's late penalty miss, with Martin Keown leading the unseemly goading of the Dutchman.