Wenger ignores Evra's comments

Arsene Wenger believes Manchester United defender Patrice Evra showed a lack of respect by branding Arsenal nothing more than a "training centre" ahead of Monday night's Barclays Premier League showdown at Old Trafford.

The Gunners leapfrogged United to the top of the table last weekend with victory over Fulham as the Red Devils had their match at Blackpool postponed.

Evra turned up the heat ahead of the showdown during an interview with French television, in which he claimed Arsenal offer style but little substance and declaring the club was in "crisis" for not having won a trophy since 2005.

Wenger, however, feels a war of words serves no purpose.

"He gave you some good stuff to make it all hot before the game," the Arsenal manager said.

"We are guided by the way we want to play football and not by the statements of anybody who plays against us."

He added: "Personally, I believe if you are a big player you always respect your opponent and that is what we try to do."

Asked if Evra had been disrespectful, the Gunners manager said: "I leave that judgement to you. We do not want to go into any unneeded talking before a game like that.

"We want to focus on the way we want to play and ignore any provocation before a game.

"We are motivated by the desire to win the game and by the quality of the football we want to play."