Terry Venables will experience his first fixture as Leeds United manager against Arsenal at noon today at Elland Road and it is as well he is not known for squeamishness. These games tend to be x-rated affairs, but Venables wants to set history aside and, much like the Ryder Cup, begin a new era of sportsmanship between the sides. David Alexander reports
"Let's draw a line under it. Things can happen sometimes, I know, and there is a background to this fixture, but hopefully that will all stop," he said yesterday.
Experience suggests it is a forlorn hope. Thirteen months ago, in the second game of the 2001-2002 season, Danny Mills and Lee Bowyer were sent off at Highbury. In May 2001 Martin Keown was given a one-match ban after elbowing Mark Viduka.
The previous November the then Leeds manager David O'Leary had a scuffle in the tunnel with Robert Pires and, in addition, Patrick Vieira was charged with misconduct - and later cleared - after a scrap with Olivier Dacourt.
Six players have been hauled before the English FA after the last four games between the sides and the last seven meetings have generated 51 bookings and four red cards.
Leeds and Arsenal matches have often crossed the fine line between competitiveness and bitter conflict.
Venables, who at his former club Tottenham was involved in some rousing north London derbies, is hoping the latest encounter can avoid the kind of controvery that has dogged this fixture.
"We are working hard to concentrate on improving and the way forward is not to get involved in these sorts of games and vendettas of the past. It is just a matter of speaking to the players about it and asking them to use some common sense.
"It is all about finding the balance of caring enough without stepping over the line. It is down to the players themselves in the end," said Venables.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has also been keen to play down the recent history between the sides, pointing out that Alan Smith had curbed his fiery temperament.
An Arsenal goal this afternoon will set a new English record of scoring in 47 consecutive games, set by Chesterfield 71 years ago. Victory or a draw would equal Manchester United's Premiership record of 29 games unbeaten set in the 1998-1999 campaign and beat Nottingham Forest's top-flight mark of 22 away League games without defeat.
Guardian Service
