Arsene Wenger

ARSENE Wenger last night taunted Sir Alex Ferguson that his Old Trafford pitch will wreck Manchester United’s title chances.

The Gunners boss labelled the turf as “disgraceful” and the worst he had ever seen in all his visits.

But more worryingly for Fergie, Wenger is adamant the dodgy surface will handicap their Championship challenge.

Fergie has had the pitch returfed in recent seasons and has wanted to do the same during this campaign.

But now he will be seething that Wenger has used it as a reason to undermine their title challenge as they sit five points behind the Gunners in the Premier League.

Speaking after his team’s 4-0 FA Cup drubbing, Wenger said provocatively: “We did not lose because of the pitch.

“We lost because Manchester United were the better side. But even for them it is a handicap.

“They are a team with a very good technical level, and the quality of the pitch levels out the technical differences between teams.

“I have been coming here for 10 or 11 years and I have never seen the pitch as bad as that.

“It will affect them because the pitch is a disgrace. I cannot believe that players worth £20m or £25m are expected to play on that.’’

And despite their FA Cup humiliation, Gunners midfielder Gilberto has warned United: “Arsenal will come back stronger – and win the title.”

At 3-0 down, Arsenal’s fans were singing ‘We’ll come back in April and win the title’ – a reference to the April 12 Premier League showdown.