Sir Alex Ferguson has welcomed the heightened security
arrangements put in place by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium ahead
of Manchester United's visit to North London on Saturday.
When United last played at the Emirates, manager Ferguson
complained that the Arsenal fans were allowed too close to the
visitors' dugout.
However, while the behaviour of the Arsenal fans did not impress
the Scot, he also concedes that United's supporters often cross the
line when their team take on the Gunners.
There is one vile 'song' in particular that United fans regularly
abuse Wenger with, and Ferguson wants them to cut it out.
"I hope it stops," he said. "There has been a focus on fans'
chants, not just towards Arsene Wenger but other managers
too.
"It is ridiculous. The police should be doing more.
"When you consider the chants that have been levelled at us about
Munich you would think United fans would understand very well the
sensitivity of the situation.
"I don't agree with it at all. Hopefully the fans appreciate when
it comes to me too.
"I would like to think other clubs share the same view as I have in
terms of criticism towards the manager. There is enough to admire
in our game without denigrating people."
Having conducted an internal review, Arsenal intend to station
another three stewards immediately behind the dugout, and have an
'ejection squad' standing by to act if any
fans misbehave.
Ferguson has welcomed this, but feels the design of the Emirates
Stadium lends itself to potentially inflammatory
confrontations.
"The problem is the fans are right behind you. They are almost in
the dugout really," he said.
"It is quite right they have improved the security because last
year was pretty unsavoury. In fact, I think it was nasty.
"I can turn myself off from it and concentrate on the game. But I
knew what was going on.
"When the stewards tried to intervene they were attacked by some
Arsenal fans. They had to remove our stewards from there and bring
their own in.
"It should not happen when you build a modern stadium like that. It
is too open for my liking.
"It is a weakness in the planning that you don't provide safety for
the visiting substitutes and staff."
source: goal.com