Patrice Evra has turned up the heat ahead of Manchester United's massive clash with
Arsenal today.
Recalling last season's clash where he claimed he was
deliberately targeted, the French fullback declared: "What
Arsenal did that day was
shameful. I was asked if it felt like there was a contract out on
me and I had to say 'yes, yes, yes'.
"It's not at all the way in which Arsenal normally handle matches because they
usually play really good football and are not overly aggressive -
it was a big change. That's why I have to thank the referee.
"He came up to me and said 'Look I don't know what's going on
but since half-time all the Arsenal players seem to be out to injure you.
Don't get involved'."
Cesc Fabregas, crocked for today's clash, was booked for a high
lunge on Evra just after the interval.
The game's simmering temperature was then inflamed when the
United star angrily snubbed Fabregas' gesture to shake hands.
Evra explained: "I particularly didn't like the reaction
Fabregas showed in that game when he knew full well we had a
Champions League final to play that month. Yet he put in a bad
tackle on me which could easily have robbed me of that final.
"We'll meet again one day, hopefully off the pitch, and I'll be
able to let my personality tell him what I think."
Evra refuses to back down from his "men against boys" taunt
which sparked all the ill-feeling.
He also told The Sun: "I only said what many other
people were thinking given that we beat them home and away and 4-1
on aggregate. Everybody knows I don't mind winding things up a
little bit but all I did was speak the truth in this
instance.
Maybe I could have said 'Yes, we have a little bit more experience
than this young Arsenal
team'.
"But I simply like to express myself a little more frankly than
that so I said what I thought. If people are honest then they'll
know that most agreed with my point of view.
"I'll always speak honestly but I'm still disappointed in the
way all this has ended up.
"I know very well that every time we play Arsenal this row will surface. But I'll deal with
it, no problem. That's just football as far as I'm concerned."
