Appeal clears way for Terry to take on Arsenal

CHELSEA will try to cement their position at the top of the English Premier League by winning at London rivals Arsenal tomorrow in their first match since their skipper John Terry was banned for racist abuse.

Terry was given a four-game ban by the Football Association yesterday after being found guilty of racially abusing Queens Park Rangers’ Anton Ferdinand and fined £220,000 pending appeal.

He has 14 days from receiving the written reasons for the decision to lodge an appeal against a decision relating to an incident that took place during Chelsea’s match away to QPR at Loftus Road on October 23 last year.

The ban, which comes after the 31-year-old former England captain was acquitted of criminal charges relating to the same incident in July, will not come into force until the appeals procedure is complete.

That means Terry is available for Chelsea’s trip to Arsenal.

Before the hearing started, former England captain Terry dramatically retired from international football.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was taken aback by the defender’s decision to call time on his 78-cap England career,

However he had no doubt Terry, who played in the 6-0 English League Cup rout of Wolves on Tuesday, would be ready for tomorrow’s match if selected.

‘‘Terry in the big games has experience and leadership qualities that can always be important,’’ Wenger said.

Second-placed Manchester United face Tottenham at Old Trafford with England striker Wayne Rooney set to make his Premier League return after being sidelined for a month by a gashed thigh.

Darren Fletcher, who also featured in the midweek League Cup win over Newcastle, is in line for a first league start in 10 months. He’s been out with a chronic bowel condition.

Champions Manchester City, who have won just two of their five league games this season and conceded seven goals in the process, travel to in-form Fulham looking for victory and a shutout for goalkeeper Joe Hart.

‘‘If you want to win the Premier League, you have to be able to keep clean sheets,’’ City defender Kolo Toure said.