Arsenal may appeal FA punishment for brawl

ARSENAL said they will consider an appeal after feeling the full wrath of the Football Association following the ugly scenes at the end of their match with Manchester United.

Lauren and Martin Keown were hit by four and three-game suspensions respectively for their part in the melee at the end of their goalless draw at Old Trafford on September 21.

Ray Parlour and Patrick Vieira must serve one-match bans, Ashley Cole was fined and the club have been hit with a £175,000 penalty and warned about their future conduct for failing to control their players. The Gunners were last night pondering whether to appeal against the verdicts despite admitting their players were in the wrong. ead: "The club are currently considering their position as far as the penalties are concerned. The club accept what occurred during and immediately after the match fell well below the required standard.

A statement from Arsenal read: "The club are currently considering their position as far as the penalties are concerned. The club accept what occurred during and immediately after the match fell well below the required standard. "The players are instructed not to allow themselves to be provoked and are reminded their triumphs have come when they have not allowed themselves to be distracted from the game."

Wenger's men certainly allowed that to happen in a fiery encounter at the home of the champions five weeks ago. The visitors angered by Vieira's dismissal for aiming a kick at Ruud van Nistelrooy pushed, shoved and goaded the United striker when the final whistle sounded just seconds after he had missed a penalty.

Lauren, as well as a four-game ban, was fined £40,000 for one charge of violent behaviour, for pushing the Dutchman in the back, and two of improper conduct, for confronting van Nistelrooy and kicking out at Quinton Fortune. Keown, ruled out for three matches, also receives a £20,000 fine. He faced one charge of violent behaviour towards van Nistelrooy.

Parlour, who admitted two charges of improper conduct for separate confrontations with van Nistelrooy and Gary Neville, must pay a £10,000 fine as well as serving a one-match suspension. Vieira faced an improper conduct charge for failing to leave the field after being sent off and, as well as a one-match suspension, receives a £20,000 fine. Cole faced a charge of improper conduct for a confrontation with Cristiano Ronaldo. He has been reprimanded, warned as to his future conduct and fined £10,000.

As the bans do not start until November 17, Lauren misses the Premiership trips to Birmingham and Leicester, the home match with Fulham and the Carling Cup clash with Wolves on December 2. Keown is out of the above games with the exception of the Leicester match on December 6, while Parlour and Vieira will serve their suspensions when Arsenal are at St Andrews on November 22.