Manchester United's manager, Sir Alex Ferguson.

LONDON (Reuters):

Alex Ferguson criticised the lack of security at Arsenal on Saturday, saying it was dangerous on the touchline for him and his Manchester United coaching staff.

"On our bench we were getting terrible abuse from people (fans) two or three feet away," the United manager told his club's in-house television channel MUTV after the 2-2 Premier League draw at the Emirates Stadium. "There is a lack of security here.

"It is absolutely disgraceful the abuse you and your staff take. All sorts of things are being shouted and screamed at you and there is an absolute danger here."

Ferguson was also unhappy with the performance of referee Howard Webb.

"I think Howard Webb has a great chance to be the top referee, but today was a big game for him and, at times, he favoured Arsenal," said the Scot.

"Their second goal (by William Gallas in stoppage time) came from him not giving a free kick for a foul on Louis Saha. It should have been a foul for us."

Ferguson also blamed a lack of concentration by his players for costing them victory in the top-of-the-table clash.

Throw it away

"We thought we had done enough to win, but that's football and I cannot believe we threw it away at the end," he said.

"It was a lack of concentration on both goals. On their first one we should have cleared the ball away for a corner but didn't. We lost our bearings.

"I think we played well, had lots of good possession and had the better chances. We controlled the game but, at the end for their second goal, the cross got the faintest of touches and they scored."

Gallas' injury-time strike was adjudged to have crossed the line by the linesman and referee Webb as the match reached a frenetic finale.

It was special for Gallas who had scored an own goal at the end of the first half to give United the lead.

It took the leaders three minutes of the second half to equalise when Cesc Fabregas scored his 11th goal of the season.

Cristiano Ronaldo then appeared to have sealed the win for United with an 82nd-minute strike.