Arsenal boss has empathy for rivals United
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has admitted he recognises what Manchester United must be feeling after being humiliated by neighbours City in Sunday’s Manchester derby.
The Red Devils took a thumping from their rivals who fired in six goals at Old Trafford in a derby fixture that will live long in the memory for the blue half of Manchester.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s side slipped five points behind City at the Premier League summit with Wenger acknowledging he knows exactly what his long-time adversary will be going through.
The Frenchman was in the dugout just two months ago as his young Gunners side were walloped 8-2 by Ferguson’s high-flyers and admits he didn’t see Sunday’s result coming.
He said: “It’s a surprise. But France nearly beat New Zealand in the rugby (World Cup
final) and that was a surprise.
“Like when we lost 8-2, the big scores have no special meaning, it only means something special happened in the game.
“When you are in a position where you have to attack with 10 men against a good side you are vulnerable. It’s not that you lost three points, but the emotional aspect of a result like that remains in your head.”
United have an instant opportunity to get the result out of their systems and regain their focus with a Carling Cup tie away at Aldershot Town on Tuesday with Ferguson expected to make a number of changes to the side that slumped to such an embarrassing defeat.
