Wenger blasts Ruud despite apology
Ruud van Nistelrooy's apology to Ashley Cole does not look like ending his feud with Arsenal after Arsene Wenger launched another bitter attack on the Dutchman.
Van Nistelrooy began the first suspension of his Manchester United career tonight after pleading guilty to the charge of serious foul play levelled against him by the Football Association following his crude tackle on Cole during the Red Devils' 2-0 win at Old Trafford.
Under the FA's new fast-track disciplinary process, the striker will also miss Saturday's trip to Portsmouth and the November 7 Manchester derby as a result of the challenge BBC pundit Alan Hansen labelled `a disgrace'.
Van Nistelrooy maintains the incident was not premeditated but TV replays looked bad, prompting the apology to Cole which accompanied a vehement defence of his disciplinary record.
'There was no deliberate intent to harm Ashley Cole and I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to him,' said Van Nistelrooy.
'Throughout my 10-year career I believe my disciplinary record is very good, not only for Manchester United but at all my previous clubs.
'I accept the charge made by the FA and I take full responsibility for this incident.'
However, van Nistelrooy's stance is unlikely to win him too much sympathy at Highbury and Wenger's latest comments will not do much to ease the on-going tension between England's biggest clubs.
The striker was already public enemy number one among the Gunners for his role in getting Patrick Vieira dismissed on Arsenal's previous Premiership visit to Old Trafford 13 months ago.
On that occasion, the 28-year-old was mobbed by angry visiting players after missing a last-gasp penalty.
This season, van Nistelrooy did not miss - either Cole or the net after he was offered a chance to redeem himself for his previous spot-kick blunder.
Wenger was seething at the former PSV Eindhoven man's challenge, labelling him a cheat, a statement that could yet land the Frenchman in trouble with the FA, an accusation that prompted the `soupgate' tunnel scandal which United have been so keen to play down.
It is the latest in a series of misguided challenges by van Nistelrooy, who escaped without censure last week after catching Sparta Prague defender Pavel Pergl in the face with a stray elbow.
The prolific forward is clearly earning himself a bad reputation and Wenger is not in the mood to offer forgiveness.
'Van Nistelrooy is a big enough player just to come and play football,' said the Arsenal chief.
'I have no preconceived ideas about him but what is he doing carrying out such silly things.
'If you look at the video again it wasn't just the challenge on Ashley Cole, he also steps on Jens Lehmann in the second half and it's clearly on purpose.
'He does it like he is always innocent. Who is he trying to impress by doing that.
'Why can't he just play football and forget all the rest.'
Wenger is stil angry.
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