Ferguson gives Arsenal that old familiar tongue lashing
Ferguson is livid at suggestions Solskjaer tried to make the most of the elbowing incident which saw Sol Campbell sent off in the latter stages of Wednesday’s controversial 2-2 draw at Highbury.
Campbell pleaded his innocence immediately and Arsenal have already lodged an appeal with the Football Association, which is likely to be determined next week.
However, with referee Mark Halsey apparently happy with his decision, it seems unlikely it will be overturned, leaving Campbell staring at a four-game ban which will rule him out of the title run-in and next month’s FA Cup final with Southampton.
The prospect of Arsène Wenger’s side being without their star defender at such a vital stage of the season is hardly likely to have Ferguson losing sleep. But given the Highbury outfit’s conduct since the incident, sympathy is in pretty short supply.
“The thing that angers me most is that all of a sudden, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a villain,” blasted the Scot.
“The Arsenal players are attacking him verbally and Thierry Henry apparently had a punch at him. I can’t believe that reaction.
“They should be looking at their own players before turning on ours because the very least you can say is that Sol was silly.
“It was quite clear on television that he has looked round to see where Ole is and has hit him with his elbow.
“Ole is one of the best professionals in the game. He is respected by everyone yet I haven’t heard one word from Highbury saying ‘how is your player?’
“He could have had a broken nose, he could have had a black eye, he could have had a broken jaw, yet there is all this defence of Sol Campbell. I find it amazing.”
It is the one aspect of Wednesday’s Highbury encounter Ferguson is justified in being displeased with.
Having been much the better side and then come from behind after conceding two goals, one of which looked suspiciously offside, United confirmed their present superiority in the form stakes.
It is why they have been installed as favourites to regain their crown, even if they would lose their leadership of the Premier League should Arsenal win their game in hand against Southampton on May 6.
By then though, the race could be over, especially if United beat Blackburn at Old Trafford tomorrow and the Gunners cannot match the result on their testing trip to Middlesbrough.
Ferguson has previously suggested Arsenal have the easier run-in. After looking at the fixtures again, though, now he is not so sure.
“We have Blackburn and then Tottenham and Everton away with a home game against Charlton in between,” he said.
“I thought it looked really difficult, but we are helped by the form my team is in at the moment.
“Then you look at Arsenal’s programme and they have to play Southampton, who won’t want to lose because it is a rehearsal of the FA Cup and Bolton and Leeds who both need results.
“They have a very difficult game tomorrow as well at Middlesbrough, so maybe it’s not as easy as I first thought.”
Ferguson will have to make a change from the Highbury encounter, though, as John O’Shea has been ruled out with a knee injury.
Gary Neville should return at right-back, with Wes Brown switching back into central defence.
With Juan Sebastian Veron still absent, Ferguson’s only other poser is whether to bring back England skipper David Beckham, a move which appears unlikely given Solskjaer’s recent impressive form on the right-hand side of midfield.
Ferguson was quick to dismiss any suggestion tomorrow’s game will be a walkover for his team.
Blackburn have already beaten United once in the league this season and gained a creditable Worthington Cup draw on their last visit to Old Trafford in January.
They are also on the brink of landing a UEFA Cup spot after winning six of their last seven league games, a run of form even United cannot match.
And surely no-one would take more delight in scuppering the Old Trafford title dream than Liverpool legend Graeme Souness.
“This game is bigger than the Arsenal one now because we are approaching the winning post and if we want to get past it, we have to beat Blackburn,” said Ferguson.
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