DEIN LOOKS FOR PEACE

The Arsenal vice-chairman, David Dein, visited Old Trafford yesterday for talks
with Manchester United officials about patching up relations between the two
clubs, on the same day that Arsène Wenger signed a new deal that will keep him at Arsenal until May 2008.

The meeting between Dein and the United chief executive, David Gill, was held
at the instigation of Arsenal who have made moves over the last few days to
smooth over the melee at Old Trafford on Sunday. Sir Alex Ferguson was
covered in soup and pizza thrown by Arsenal players in the corridor off the main tunnel at Old Trafford after the champions' 2-0 defeat.

United officials have been set against a summit meeting with Dein that was
tentatively suggested to them in the aftermath of Sunday's row in which Wenger
also swore at Ferguson. However, Dein made an impromptu visit to Old Trafford and stayed for around an hour on the way to Arsenal's Carling Cup clash with
Manchester City.

United officials have been stung by the events and feel that a publicised summit meeting would do little to help their cause. They have even suggested to Arsenal that a simple apology would be the best way of drawing a line under the matter.

They are surprised that Wenger has still not accepted that he accused Ruud van Nistelrooy of cheating after the match despite television evidence. The Arsenal
manager's press conference on Tuesday, in which he accused United of failing to play in the right "spirit", has meant that any joint statement from the two clubs would be difficult.

There was a basic agreement to keep the exact details of what took place a
secret, even though television crews had witnessed much of what happened in
the corridor outside the tunnel. Sources at Old Trafford have indicated that they
feel that agreement has been compromised by Arsenal.

In private, United are shocked by the way in which Ferguson was treated by
Arsenal players. Although United are well aware of the strong feelings that the
Scot provokes among some opposition teams, they feel that Arsenal's players
showed a woeful lack of respect towards Ferguson.

There were further allegations yesterday that Ashley Cole mistakenly threw the
food at Ferguson when he was really aiming for Van Nistelrooy. Yet witnesses in the tunnel have told The Daily Telegraph that Thierry Henry and Jens Lehmann
were also in the group surrounding the United manager.

United also feel that they have led the way in making peace with Arsenal when
they announced on Tuesday that Van Nistelrooy would not be contesting the FA
charge for his challenge on Cole. The Dutch striker apologised for his tackle on
the England full-back and has accepted his three-match ban.

Since Sunday, United have refused to make any public comment on the matter
although Ferguson's first press briefing tomorrow would be an ideal platform for the Scot to extend his own views on the matter. The FA are still gathering
evidence from both sides for their own investigation of the incident.

Crucially, one of the security guards at Old Trafford was injured in the struggle
that took place outside the changing rooms.