Wenger in the dock over cup final comments

ARSENAL manager Arsenal Wenger has been charged with improper conduct and/or bringing the game into disrepute by the Football Association following his comments after the Carling Cup final.

Wenger had been asked by the governing body to explain his claim “the whole system is not honest”, referring to the disciplinary procedures of the FA, in the wake of the mass brawl which marred the closing moments of the match in Cardiff last month.

The Arsenal manager also suggested the assistant whom referee Howard Webb consulted before sending off striker Emmanuel Adebayor was a “liar”.

Wenger, meanwhile, holds slime hopes Robin van Persie may be back for the closing few games of the season.

The Dutch forward, who had scored 13 goals, suffered a broken bone in his foot during the game against Manchester United on January 21.

Wenger said: “Robin van Persie was not allowed to start impact work for 10 weeks from the injury so I would say the earliest (for a return) is the end of April. I hope we will see him again this season but it could be very short.”

Meanwhile Cesc Fabregas believes Arsenal will learn from the disappointments and experiences of the last few weeks and become a more potent force next season.

Arsene Wenger’s side have only qualification for next season’s Champions League to play for after losing the Carling Cup final and bowing out of the FA Cup and Champions League in the space of 11 days.

It is a test of character for a squad currently decimated by suspensions and injuries but Spanish star Fabregas believes the players will rise to the challenges ahead.

A 1-0 win at Aston Villa on Wednesday was the first step on the road to recovery and lifted them above Liverpool into third spot in the Barclays Premiership.

Fabregas said: “I feel the team is growing up and for next season will be great.

“We were all low after the PSV Eindhoven game. Whenever we lose it is a disappointment because we are Arsenal and we always have to be at the top.

“You have to recover from disappointment. It is the same when you break up with your girlfriend or something like that.

“You have to come back and be stronger in life and similar sorts of things happen in football.”

Fabregas praised the efforts of manager Arsene Wenger to lift his young side, adding: “The manager always tries to get our heads up.

“Everyone knows last week against Eindhoven was a massive disappointment to everyone.

“He is not coming to us and saying nothing happened. Something happened which was disappointing and we have to try and learn from that and show everyone we are not going to be down. We will be stronger.’’