Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has defended his challenge on Ashley Cole during United's 2-0 victory over the Premiership champions.
The Dutch international has been charged with serious foul play by the English FA after he kicked Cole on the knee. Referee Mike Riley missed the incident, but it was picked up by television cameras and van Nistelrooy must now answer a case.
However, the striker insists he is innocent of any malicious intent and said: "We both just went for the ball. It was a 50-50 ball and in these situations two players can collide."
Van Nistelrooy could be handed a three match ban for the incident and under the FA's new fast-track disciplinary system, his case will be dealt with on Thursday.
Meanwhile Arsenal's Jose Antonio Reyes has hit out at United's approach to the game as the fallout from Sunday's encounter continues.
Reyes slammed the hard-hitting tactics employed by United and claimed that the referee didn't do enough to protect the Arsenal players. " "In all my sporting life I have never received so many kicks as in Manchester," he said.
"It was the hardest match I have played in England and the referee should have stopped the violence of the Manchester United players. I received more blows in that match than I have ever done in the Spanish League and I finished on the ground covered in bruises."
