Ferguson: Van Persie deserves respect

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson would be surprised if Robin van Persie was not given a warm reception by Arsenal fans this weekend.

The prolific Dutchman is poised to face his former club for the first time since joining United in a £24million summer deal as the Gunners visit Old Trafford in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday.
Van Persie scored 37 goals for the Londoners last season but, with his contract running down, opted not to renew and the club sold to their rivals. The 29-year-old has since made a fine start at United, scoring nine times in 12 appearances.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said Van Persie, who was brought to England from Feyenoord by the Gunners in 2004, deserves respect and Ferguson agrees.
Ferguson said: "I think Arsene has laid his seed for his supporters in terms of respecting him.
"I think, if you think about all the former players who have come back to Old Trafford, they always get a warm applause. I don't think he'll have a problem. I think the fans will recognise the eight years he gave them and I think that will be nice."