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Louis van Gaal has found an unlikely ally – with Arsene Wenger jumping to defend him against accusations that he’s turned Manchester United into hoof-it-and-hope merchants!

Van Gaal was so upset by reports that his team long-balled it during last weekend’s 1-1 draw at West Ham that he produced a series of tactical diagrams during a press conference in midweek to prove the critics wrong.

That earned him more grief, with former Holland striker Pierre van Hooijdonk saying “even the biggest clowns are laughing at Van Gaal now”, and United legend Paul Scholes describing LVG’s response as “bizarre”.

But Wenger said: “I didn’t understand what was the problem. Manchester United went a bit ‘longer’ in the last 10 minutes: I found that completely logical. There’s no reason for him to defend himself.

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“An intelligent team knows how to exploit its strong points.

“I don’t even think Van Gaal said to his team ‘go longer’. But when they saw [Marouane] Fellaini on the pitch the guys at the back say ‘Ah, I’ll kick it to Fellaini and then Van Persie or Rooney can score the goal’. It’s normal.”

No wonder Wenger’s speaking out – because as Sunday Mirror Sport revealed last November, new Arsenal academy director Andries Jonker is a disciple of Van Gaal and his tactics.

Jonker wants Arsenal’s youngsters to be brought up on a longer-ball game, pressing high up the field, rather than the pass-and-move style that’s defined the Wenger era.

(Image: Getty)

Wenger added: “Look, I stuck with our way of playing because I thought it was the game that was most suited to the style of our players. But when you play [Olivier] Giroud sometimes as well you go a bit ‘longer’.”

Long-ball Arsenal might feature against Middlesbrough today, with the club ready to rest star striker Alexis Sanchez, who suffered a knee injury in the win over Leicester in midweek.

Wenger said: “He didn’t look right on Tuesday night. He got a knock on his knee. It’s only muscular. He is the type you have to hold back. He wants so much to play. If he’s not ready Sunday he should be OK for the next game.”

Theo Walcott is favourite to stand in.