Wenger and Fergie battle with FIFA

Arsene Wenger has joined forces with Sir Alex Ferguson to battle FIFA over the dates of international football.

The unlikely alliance between two managers, who have had a series of public spats, comes after a fortnight in which Arsenal and Manchester United had more than 25 players away playing for more than 10 countries.

Arsenal manager Wenger, who has had limited time to work with his returning players before tomorrow's game at Fulham, wants the present system of playing on a Saturday and the following Wednesday to be changed to a Friday and then Tuesday to ensure valuable recovery time for the players.

Wenger said: "I know Sir Alex is completely for this change as well."

United players Gary Neville and Louis Saha returned with injuries that make them doubtful for United's game at Bolton tomorrow.

Wenger and Ferguson will find a ready ally in Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez. His £ 12million striker, Djibril Cisse, was stranded with many of the French players on the Faroe Islands last night because of fog. He was not due back at Anfield until late this afternoon - less than 24 hours before the league game against West Bromwich Albion.

Wenger believes that all Premiership managers will support the campaign. He said: "While the players are away for two weeks you expect a disaster. You just never know.

"It was a huge relief for me that I had no injuries. Manchester United were not so lucky with Neville and Saha. All the clubs are keen to push for the international matches to be on Friday and Tuesday. That gives us a fair chance to prepare for the game at the weekend.

"I hope we will push for the change as a group but as an individual I have tried for a few years now to bring in the change. I know that many manager share that."

Ideally, Wenger would prefer the two matches in international fortnight to be on the Wednesday and then the Saturday rather than the current system. That would mean the clubs have the players back for a full week ahead of the next domestic game. "But the least I would like is Friday and then Tuesday matches," he added.

Wenger has to decide whether to bring Patrick Vieira back into action at club level.

He played - and was sent off - for France on Wednesday but it proved he has recovered from a thigh injury.