Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is to ask the Football Association (FA) to investigate a challenge by Arsenal's Thierry Henry on Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze, British newspapers have reported.

The match on October 24, won 2-0 by United to end Arsenal's run of 49 successive unbeaten league games, was an ill-tempered affair that ended with a fracas in the tunnel, in which Ferguson is reported to have been pelted with food.

Heinze was brought down by Arsenal's Fredrik Ljungberg just before halftime and Henry then collided with the Argentine while he was still on the ground.

"The tackle on Heinze was terrible. ...What Henry did? That was bad," Ferguson was quoted as saying by the Observer.

"We shall present that to the FA and see what they do."

United's Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy was banned for three matches for a foul on Arsenal defender Ashley Cole and Ferguson was unhappy with the way the incident was brought to the FA's attention, the newspaper said.

"You should check how the Ruud van Nistelrooy tackle was brought to the attention of the FA," said Ferguson.

"There is supposed to be a system to deal with issues like that, but in this case the compliance officer stepped in and I think that is because of the publicity.

"If that is the case, who is deciding the discipline -- the press, the FA or the referees' committee?"

United lost to Portsmouth 2-0 on Saturday, while Arsenal scored an late equaliser to snatch a 2-2 draw with Southampton.