FA's new pizza problem

The Football Association were today facing a dilemma over whether to bring forward their peace summit between Arsenal and Manchester United.

The two warring clubs were drawn to play in the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup at Old Trafford on 1 December only a month after the badtempered clash between them at the same ground ended with Arsenal players throwing pizza and soup at United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

FA chairman Geoff Thompson had wanted a meeting with key figures from both clubs when the leftovers from the latest spat had been cleared up and in time to calm things before they meet in the Premiership in February.

The intention was to allow a few weeks for the fallout from Arsene Wenger's FA charge for improper conduct to fade away.

But this Cup game will take place shortly after the FA are expected to rule on Wenger's Old Trafford outburst at Ruud van Nistelrooy, when he branded the United striker a cheat.

After last night's draw, Ferguson expressed his amusement at the FA predicament: "The FA will be delighted with that. Oh dearie me," he said.