Arsene Wenger accepts charge
LONDON. - Arsene Wenger has conBut Wenger didn’t want to speculate firmed he will accept his Football Assoon how the FA would punish him and ciation misconduct charge after being refused to be drawn on what he would sent from the touchline during Arsesay in his defence. nal’s English Premier League win over “I don’t think I need to especially Burnley last Sunday. come out with that now,” he said.
Wenger has also requested a personal “I think I have said what I think I hearing over the clash with an official have to say publicly, the rest will be a that is set to see him banned. bit more discreet.”
The Gunners boss was sent to the “I came out after the game and I said stands by referee Jon Moss after allegwhat I think I had to say. When I don’t edly using abusive or insulting lanbehave like I think I should behave, I’m guage towards fourth official Anthony big enough say ‘yes, that’s not right’, Taylor after an injury-time penalty was and that’s it.” awarded to the Clarets. Wenger did defend his decision to
Wenger then tried to watch the stand at the top of the tunnel, insistremainder of the contest from the ing there are no instructions where a entrance to the tunnel and appeared manager is to go once dismissed from to push Taylor, who was asking him the touchline. to retreat. Wenger referenced an incident at
Arsenal went on to win the game Manchester United in 2009 when he 2-1 after being awarded an even later was sent off in injury-time for kicking penalty of their own, but Wenger was a bottle and ended up behind the dugcharged on Monday and revealed ahead out with the home fans. of his side’s FA Cup fourth-round tie at “When I was sent off I was surSouthampton that he will not contest prised and I was in the tunnel because the decision. I thought I had the right to be in the
Wenger could face a fine or touchtunnel,” he said. line ban, but, asked yesterday if he “Last time I was sent off wrongly, in would accept the charge, he said: “Yes, 2009, I had to go in the stand at Old I answered that in the press conference, Trafford and I didn’t know where to I have little more to add. go. No one tells you what you have to
“I am big enough to stand up for do when you are sent off.” what I do. When I don’t behave like I Asked if the guidelines need to be think I should behave, I am big enough made clearer, he added: “I think so, to say I am not right. because you don’t know where to go.”
“I’m a passionate guy and I believe Another Gunner in trouble is Granit that I am completely committed in Xhaka. The Swiss midfielder is susmy job and want to win the football pended for tomorrow’s FA Cup clash games.” with Southampton after being sent off
While Wenger accepts the charge, against Burnley. he will request a personal hearing with And he has also been accused of the FA to state his case and wants clarracially abusing a Heathrow staff memity on the rules for whenber.amanageris sent to the stands. Wenger said: “There are two inci
The 67-year-old knows Alan Pardew dent. One is the sending off, I felt that was banned for two matches and fined was harsh when I watched it again. It £20 000 after accepting an improper was not a dangerous tackle, it was a conduct charge following an incident clumsy tackle. I don’t think he wanted in August 2012 when he shoved assisto injure anybody. tant referee Peter Kirkup. “The other incident, at Heathrow, he denies completely. I have talked with him about it and he completely denies what happened there.”
Meanwhile, Wenger has confirmed Theo Walcott is set to return to the Arsenal squad this weekend.
Walcott hasn’t played for the Gunners since the 2-1 defeat to Manchester City in December.
He is set to be part of the squad for the FA Cup fourth round clash at Southampton tomorrow.
Club captain Per Mertesacker and Mathieu Debuchy are also in full training. But Santi Cazorla is still missing.
“We have Walcott back in the squad,” the Arsenal boss said.
“Elneny is at the African Cup of Nations. Mertesacker and Debuchy are back in training which is good. “No, Santi (is not in training) no.” Granit Xhaka is unavailable as he begins his four-match ban. - Sky Sports.