McLintock expects trouble for Gunners

Frank McLintock is expecting trouble for Arsenal after their players’ behaviour at the end of Sunday’s goalless draw at Old Trafford.

But he believes an unwarranted booking for Patrick Vieira sparked the unsavoury scenes at the finish.

Referee Steve Bennett showed Arsenal captain Vieira a yellow card 15 minutes from the end but McLintock said: “Having watched it, I thought he was very unlucky to be booked. And it made him so frustrated.

“Vieira tackled for the ball and got it. He only knocked over the United player with his momentum.

“But after being booked – unjustly it seems – he was still upset when Ruud van Nistelrooy fell on top of him a few minutes later and he jabbed out with his feet.

“He shouldn’t have done that, of course, but I’m sure it was because he thought the previous decision was such an injustice.”

Former Arsenal skipper and 1971 double winner McLintock pointed out: “Unless you’ve been in those situations you don’t realise how much people are fuming inside.

“Of course, you have to try to control it but the ironic thing was that Vieira missed van Nistelrooy by a mile when he kicked out.

“That’s what upset the Arsenal players so much. That’s why they were so ecstatic when van Nistelrooy missed a penalty right at the end.

“When Vieira kicked out he jumped backwards as though somebody had pulled him by a piece of elastic. In the end the referee had no choice but to send Vieira off, because there was clear intent.

“Van Nistelrooy certainly didn’t make life any easier for him, though. There are just so many players in the game now who dive. You would almost be forgiven for believing it is part of the coaching.”

Thirteen years ago Arsenal were deducted two points and Manchester United one after a brawl between several players of both sides at Old Trafford.

That happened in mid-match, a game that Arsenal won 1-0 and used as a springboard to go on and win the title despite the points deduction.

McLintock said: “What happened on Sunday was not in the same category as that 1990 incident, although people said that even that was not really that much out of the ordinary.

“But I was disappointed the Arsenal players who had a go at van Nistelrooy could not be more dignified. They had just pulled off an excellent result and the amazing thing was that until the last few minutes this was a relatively quiet game.

“I imagine they will get some FA action. It can’t be ignored. I think people will be charged with bringing the game into disrepute, although personally I’m still not even sure what warrants a yellow card these days.

“To me there seemed so much relief flooding out of Arsenal’s players when van Nistelrooy missed the penalty.

“Obviously they blamed him for Vieira being sent off but their demeanour was so strange – as if they were celebrating at the same time.

“The picture of Martin Keown when he came down with his arm on van Nistelrooy looked more like Dracula coming down out of the heavens.”