Wenger pays for tunnel tantrum

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was charged with misconduct by England’s governing Football Association on Monday after an alleged altercation with the fourth official during Sunday’s 2-1 Premier League win over Burnley.

The veteran French boss was dismissed from his technical area by referee Jon Moss after being incensed at the awarding of Burnley’s stoppage-time penalty. He is accused of verbally abusing fourth official Anthony Taylor.

Wenger then tried to watch the closing minutes in the tunnel at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, with television pictures showing him pushing Taylor when asked to move back.

Remarkably, the Gunners won 2-1 after Alexis Sanchez scored an even later stoppagetime penalty following Andre Gray’s spot-kick equalizer that canceled out Shkodran Mustafi’s opener for the title-chasing Gunners.

Wenger, Arsenal’s manager since 1996, apologized for his behavior after the match, but he could not dodge the FA charge.

“Arsene Wenger has been charged for misconduct following Arsenal’s game against Burnley on Sunday (22 January 2017),” said an FA statement on Monday.

Following the victory, Wenger expressed “regret” for his behavior.

Asked about pushing Taylor, he replied: “I regret everything. I should have shut up, gone in and gone home. I apologize for that.

“I was sent to the stands. I didn’t know if I was sent to the stands, but I was sent out. I thought I could watch it from the corridor, you know. I went inside and watched it on television.

“Look, it was nothing bad. I said something that you hear every day in football. Overall, nine times out of 10, you are not sent to the stands for that.

“If I am, I am (suspended), and I should have shut up completely. I was quite calm the whole game, more than usual, but just (not) in the last two or three minutes.”

Wenger’s mood was improved by the result, which moved the Gunners to second in the Premier League standings, eight points behind leader Chelsea.