The Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, has suggested that Cristiano Ronaldo would be fouled less often if he were less "arrogant". Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed that opponents resort to manhandling the Manchester United winger when they can find no other way to thwart him and criticised Newcastle's Steven Taylor for striking the Portuguese on Wednesday night, for which the FA yesterday said the defender would not face disciplinary action.

While Wenger expressed support for Ferguson's view, he also claimed that the player invites hostility and that, moreover, United are sometimes treated too gently by referees. "With Manchester United I'm a bit cautious because sometimes I feel they get too much protection and sometimes they don't get enough," said Wenger. "Ronaldo is a specific example of that. Sometimes his arrogance is provocative, and his class as well."

Irked that Taylor escaped a red card when he caught Ronaldo with a flailing arm during United's 2–1 win at St James' Park, Ferguson said he was being victimised by officials.

"Ronaldo is an easy target for referees," he told MUTV. "It's easy to give decisions against him because he is such a great player and he is so celebrated. When he is away from home the crowd boos him, so he has to handle that. But it is not helping him."