Patrice Evra has turned up the heat ahead of Manchester United's massive clash with Arsenal today. Recalling last season's clash where he claimed he was deliberately targeted, the French fullback declared: "What Arsenal did that day was shameful. I was asked if it felt like there was a contract out on me and I had to say 'yes, yes, yes'.
"It's not at all the way in which Arsenal normally handle matches because they usually play really good football and are not overly aggressive - it was a big change. That's why I have to thank the referee.
"He came up to me and said 'Look I don't know what's going on but since half-time all the Arsenal players seem to be out to injure you. Don't get involved'."
Cesc Fabregas, crocked for today's clash, was booked for a high lunge on Evra just after the interval.
The game's simmering temperature was then inflamed when the United star angrily snubbed Fabregas' gesture to shake hands.
Evra explained: "I particularly didn't like the reaction Fabregas showed in that game when he knew full well we had a Champions League final to play that month. Yet he put in a bad tackle on me which could easily have robbed me of that final.
"We'll meet again one day, hopefully off the pitch, and I'll be able to let my personality tell him what I think."
Evra refuses to back down from his "men against boys" taunt which sparked all the ill-feeling.
He also told The Sun: "I only said what many other people were thinking given that we beat them home and away and 4-1 on aggregate. Everybody knows I don't mind winding things up a little bit but all I did was speak the truth in this instance. Maybe I could have said 'Yes, we have a little bit more experience than this young Arsenal team'.
"But I simply like to express myself a little more frankly than that so I said what I thought. If people are honest then they'll know that most agreed with my point of view.
"I'll always speak honestly but I'm still disappointed in the way all this has ended up.
"I know very well that every time we play Arsenal this row will surface. But I'll deal with it, no problem. That's just football as far as I'm concerned."
