LONDON Arsenal, Manchester United sort out differences

The English soccer giants went at each other after Sunday's game.
LONDON (AP) -- The rivalry between Arsenal and Manchester United is getting downright nasty.
Accusations of vicious fouls, cheating, refereeing mistakes and a disputed penalty kick followed the latest confrontation between two of the giants of English soccer -- a 2-0 victory by Manchester United that ended Arsenal's record unbeaten streak of 49 games in the Premier League.
And the harsh talk was practically gentlemanly compared to the postgame spat Sunday in which players and team officials screamed and scuffled in the stadium tunnel, with Man U manager Alex Ferguson getting soup thrown over him.
"I feel today we were a little bit robbed," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.
The victory moved United to fifth place and within eight points of league-leading Arsenal. Chelsea is second, just two points behind.
Sunday's game added further heat to this simmering rivalry: Arsenal, the defending champion and rising power vs. United, the team of the '90s trying to reclaim its dominance; Wenger, the urbane Frenchman vs. Ferguson, the gritty Scotsman.
Issues
The English Football Association could be busy sorting out the fallout:
UAn unidentified Arsenal player reportedly threw soup -- pea or tomato -- over Ferguson as the teams squared up outside the locker rooms. Ferguson changed clothes before attending a news conference. Arsenal's equipment manager, Paul Johnson, was left with a bloody nose during the scuffling. The FA said Monday it was investigating.
UWenger accused referee Mike Riley of favoring United. Riley has awarded seven penalty kicks to United in the last seven games he has worked at Old Trafford.
UThe FA on Monday cited Man U striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy with "serious foul play" for digging his cleats into the knee of Arsenal's Ashley Cole. Wenger said van Nistelrooy "can only cheat people."
The case will be heard by an FA disciplinary panel Thursday, and the Dutch forward could face a long suspension. The FA ordered the manager explain his comments about van Nistelrooy and Riley.
UUnited striker Wayne Rooney was accused of diving to draw the critical second-half penalty kick. Rooney fell in the penalty area after Arsenal defender Sol Campbell stuck out his left leg. Replays showed there was little, if any, contact.
Van Nistelrooy converted the penalty kick. Rooney added a second goal during injury time.
"Nobody touched him," Wenger said. "I think in a game of that importance, to see how lightly the referees gives the penalty is difficult to take."
Arsenal was also furious that Riley took no action against Rio Ferdinand after he body-checked Freddie Ljungberg to the ground as he raced in alone on Man U's goalkeeper in the first half.
"In the dressing room after the game we knew we did not deserve to lose this game," Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira said. "We know the referee's decision changed the game."
In any event, Manchester United is back in the championship race. A defeat would have left the team 14 points behind Arsenal. The teams meet again Feb. 1, 2005.